Izaga 16
1 Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits.
3 Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order.
4 UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day.
5 UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices.
6 Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil.
7 Nxa izindlela zomuntu zimthokozisa uThixo, uyenza lezitha zakhe zihlalisane laye ngokuthula.
When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Kungcono ukuzuza okulutshwana ngendlela elungileyo kulokuzuza okunengi ngobuqili.
Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity.
9 Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps.
10 Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work.
12 Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice.
13 Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved.
14 Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it.
15 Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain.
16 Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way.
18 Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall.
19 Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant.
20 Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed.
21 Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater.
22 Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless.
23 Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips.
24 Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones.
25 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death.
26 Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it.
27 Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders.
29 Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good.
30 Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil.
31 Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities.
33 Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord.
