Izaga 16
1 Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
Human beings may make plans in their minds, but the final decision is the Lord's.
2 Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their intentions.
3 Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
Trust whatever you do to the Lord, and your plans will be successful.
4 UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
The Lord has a purpose in everything he does, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5 UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
The Lord hates the arrogant. You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished.
6 Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
Sin is forgiven through trustworthy love and faithfulness; by honoring the Lord people are saved from evil.
7 Nxa izindlela zomuntu zimthokozisa uThixo, uyenza lezitha zakhe zihlalisane laye ngokuthula.
When the way that people live pleases the Lord, he makes even their enemies be at peace with them.
8 Kungcono ukuzuza okulutshwana ngendlela elungileyo kulokuzuza okunengi ngobuqili.
Better to have just a little and be honest than to have a lot and be dishonest.
9 Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
You can plan in your mind what to do, but the Lord will guide you.
10 Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
The king is inspired in what he says; he is not unreliable in his decisions.
11 Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
Accurate scales and balances are important to the Lord. He has determined all the weights in the bag.
12 Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
It's a terrible thing for a king to do evil, for his throne is based on doing right.
13 Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
People who tell the truth please kings; they love those who say what is right.
14 Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
An angry king can put you to death. If you're wise you'll try and calm him down.
15 Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
If the king is smiling, you'll live; his blessing is like the clouds that bring spring rain.
16 Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
Far better to get wisdom than gold; far better to choose knowledge than silver.
17 Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
The highway of the good leads away from evil. If you watch where you're going you'll save your life.
18 Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
Pride leads to destruction; and an arrogant spirit leads to a fall.
19 Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
Better to have a humble spirit and live with the poor than to share plunder with the proud.
20 Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
If you pay attention to wise instruction you will do well; you'll be happy if you trust in the Lord.
21 Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
If you think wisely you'll be called perceptive; if you speak pleasantly you'll be persuasive.
22 Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
If you have good sense it will be a fountain of life to you, but stupid people are punished by their stupidity.
23 Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
A wise mind makes sure to say sensible things; the words spoken are persuasive.
24 Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
Kind words are like a honeycomb—they taste sweet and are healthy for the body.
25 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
There's a way that seems to be right, but in the end it's the way of death.
26 Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
A good appetite helps workers—hunger encourages them.
27 Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
Worthless people plot evil and their words burn like fire.
28 Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
Quarrelsome people cause conflict, and a gossip comes between the closest friends.
29 Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
Violent people lure their friends, and lead them in a direction that's not good for them.
30 Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
People who give you a sly wink are plotting bad things; they purse their lips and make evil happen.
31 Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
Gray hair is a glorious crown; it's achieved by living right.
32 Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
Better to be slow to anger than to be powerful, better to have self-control than to conquer a town.
33 Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
The lot is thrown into the lap, but the Lord makes every decision.
