Izaga 11
1 UThixo uyazenyanya izilinganiso zokudlelezela, kodwa uthokoza ngezilinganiso eziqondileyo.
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but accurate weights are his delight.
2 Nxa kungena ukuzigqaja kungena lokweyisa, kodwa ukuzithoba kuhamba lenhlakanipho.
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 Ubuqotho kwabaqondileyo buyabakhokhela, kodwa abangathembekanga babulawa yibumenemene babo.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Inotho kayisizi lutho ngosuku lweziphithiphithi kodwa ukulunga kuyaphephisa ekufeni.
Riches don’t profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 Ukulunga kwabangelacala kuqondisa indlela yabo, kodwa ababi bawiswa yibubi babo.
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 Ukulunga kwabaqondileyo kuyabakhulula, kodwa abangathembekanga bagwenxwa yizinkanuko zabo ezimbi.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 Umuntu omubi angafa ithemba lakhe liyaphela; konke abesithi uzakuzuza ngamandla akhe kuphelela ezeni.
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 Umuntu olungileyo uyakhululwa enkathazweni, kusuke kuyewela komubi.
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
9 Ngomlomo wakhe umuntu ongakholwayo uyamchitha umakhelwane, kodwa ngolwazi abalungileyo bayaphepha.
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbour, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 Nxa kuphumelela abalungileyo umuzi uyathokoza; nxa kusifa omubi kuba lokujabula.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 Ngokubusiswa ngabalungileyo omubi ubalodumo, kodwa ngomlomo wezigangi uyachitheka.
By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Umuntu ongelangqondo weyisa umakhelwane wakhe, kodwa umuntu ozwisisayo uthiba ulimi lwakhe.
One who despises his neighbour is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 Onyeyayo wehluleka ukuvala isifuba sakhe, kodwa othembekileyo uyayigcina imfihlo.
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 Isizwe esingelabukhokheli obuqondileyo siyachitheka, kodwa ngobunengi babeluleki siyanqoba.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counsellors there is victory.
15 Lowo okhuphela omunye umuntu isibambiso uzahlupheka, kodwa owalayo ukupha isibambiso uvikelekile.
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 Umfazi olomusa uyahlonitshwa, kodwa amadoda alesihluku azuza inotho kuphela.
A gracious woman obtains honour, but violent men obtain riches.
17 Umuntu olomusa uyazisiza, kodwa umuntu ololunya uyazilimaza.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 Umuntu omubi uhola umvuzo wobuqili, kodwa lowo ohlanyela ukulunga uvuna umvuzo omuhle.
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Lowo omiyo ekulungeni uzuza ukuphila, kodwa oxotshana lobubi uya ekufeni.
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 UThixo uyabazonda abantu abalenhliziyo embi, kodwa uyathokoza ngalabo abandlela zabo zilungile.
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 Kodwa yazi lokhu, ababi bazajeziswa kodwa abalungileyo bazahlala bekhululekile.
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Njengesongo legolide lifakwe emakhaleni engulube, unjalo umfazi omuhle kodwa ongelambeko.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 Izifiso zabalungileyo zizuza okuhle kodwa ithemba lababi liphelela osizini.
The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 Ophayo ngesihle uyazuza okunengi kulakuqala, lowo ogodlayo ungenelwa yibuyanga.
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 Lowo ophayo uzaphumelela; owonga abanye laye uzakongiwa.
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 Abantu bayamqalekisa lowo ogodla amabele, kodwa izibusiso zingumqhele walowo ovuma ukuwathengisa.
People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 Lowo odinga ukulunga uzuza umusa, kodwa okubi kwehlela lowo okudingayo.
He who diligently seeks good seeks favour, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 Othembele enothweni yakhe uzakuwa; kodwa olungileyo uzaphila njengehlamvu eliluhlaza.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 Olethela abendlu yakhe uhlupho ilifa lakhe yize, lesihawu sizakuba yinceku yohlakaniphileyo.
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 Izithelo zolungileyo ziyisihlahla sokuphila, njalo lowo ozuza imiphefumulo uhlakaniphile.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. He who is wise wins souls.
31 Nxa abalungileyo bezuza ukujeziswa emhlabeni pho kuzakuba njani kwabangakholwayo labayizoni!
Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
