Izaga 16
1 Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of 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 weigher of spirits.
3 Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
5 UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should 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 offer 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 men depart from evil.
7 Nxa izindlela zomuntu zimthokozisa uThixo, uyenza lezitha zakhe zihlalisane laye ngokuthula.
When the ways of man shall 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 great revenues with iniquity.
9 Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
10 Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
12 Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
13 Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
14 Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.
15 Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
16 Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase 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 departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
18 Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up 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 proud.
20 Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
21 Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
22 Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
23 Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.
24 Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
Well ordered words are as 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 that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
26 Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
27 Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
29 Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
30 Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.
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.
The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.
33 Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.
