Izaga 16
1 Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives.
3 Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed.
4 UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
The LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly not be unpunished.
6 Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
7 Nxa izindlela zomuntu zimthokozisa uThixo, uyenza lezitha zakhe zihlalisane laye ngokuthula.
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Kungcono ukuzuza okulutshwana ngendlela elungileyo kulokuzuza okunengi ngobuqili.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
9 Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
10 Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
11 Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
14 Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
15 Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
16 Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
20 Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed.
21 Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22 Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
23 Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
24 Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
26 Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
27 Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
29 Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
31 Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
32 Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
33 Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
