Izaga 16
1 Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
3 Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be achieved.
4 UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
The LORD has made everything for His purpose— even the wicked for the day of disaster.
5 UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD; be assured that he will not go unpunished.
6 Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside 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 the man’s enemies live at peace with him.
8 Kungcono ukuzuza okulutshwana ngendlela elungileyo kulokuzuza okunengi ngobuqili.
Better a little with righteousness than great gain 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 determines his steps.
10 Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
A divine verdict is on the lips of a king; his mouth must not betray justice.
11 Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are His concern.
12 Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
Wicked behavior is detestable to kings, for a throne is established through righteousness.
13 Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
Righteous lips are a king’s delight, and he who speaks honestly is beloved.
14 Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
The wrath of a king is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
15 Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
When a king’s face brightens, there is life; his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
16 Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
How much better to acquire wisdom than gold! To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.
17 Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
The highway of the upright leads away from evil; he who guards his way protects his life.
18 Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
Whoever heeds instruction will find success, and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.
21 Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant speech promotes instruction.
22 Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.
23 Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
The heart of the wise man instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
25 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
26 Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
A worker’s appetite works for him because his hunger drives him onward.
27 Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
A worthless man digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
A perverse man spreads dissension, and a gossip divides close friends.
29 Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
30 Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
He who winks his eye devises perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.
31 Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is attained along the path of righteousness.
32 Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures 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.
