Izaga 16
1 Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
The preparations of the heart in man, and 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 spirits.
3 Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
Commit your works to the LORD, and your thoughts shall be established.
4 UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
The LORD has made all things for himself: yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and 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 without right.
9 Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
A man’s heart devises his way: but the LORD directs his steps.
10 Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresses not in judgment.
11 Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
A just weight and balance are the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaks right.
14 Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
The wrath of a king is as messengers 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 countenance is life; and his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen 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 that keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
Pride goes before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
He that handles a matter wisely shall find good: and whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.
21 Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increases learning.
22 Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
Understanding is a wellspring of life to him that has it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
23 Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
24 Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
Pleasant words are as an 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 seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
26 Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
He that labors labors for himself; for his mouth craves it of him.
27 Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
An ungodly man digs up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
28 Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
A fraudulent man sows strife: and a whisperer separates chief friends.
29 Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
A violent man entices his neighbor, and leads him into the way that is not good.
30 Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
He shuts his eyes to devise fraudulent things: moving his lips he brings evil to pass.
31 Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
32 Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.
33 Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
