Izaga 16
1 Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
Unto man belong the resolves of the heart; but from the Lord cometh the expression of the tongue.
2 Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
Every one of the ways of a man is pure in his own eyes; but the Lord measureth the spirits.
3 Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
Commit unto the Lord thy works, and thy plans will be firmly established.
4 UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
Every thing hath the Lord wrought for its destined end; yes, even the wicked for the day of unhappiness.
5 UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
An abomination of the Lord is every one that is proud of heart: the hand [of God] being against [his] hand, he shall not go unpunished.
6 Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
Through kindness and truth is iniquity atoned for; 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 Lord receiveth in favor a man's ways, he maketh 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 incomes through injustice.
9 Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth firmly his steps.
10 Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
There should be a wise sentence on the lips of the king: his mouth should never commit a trespass in judging.
11 Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
A just balance and scales belong to the Lord: his work are all the weights in the bag.
12 Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
It should be an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; for through righteousness [alone] can a throne be established.
13 Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
Righteous lips [should obtain] the favor of kings; and him that speaketh uprightly should they love.
14 Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
The fury of a king is like the messengers of death; but a wise man will appease it.
15 Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
In the light of the king's countenance there 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 obtain wisdom than gold! and to obtain understanding is preferable to 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 preserveth his soul that watcheth his way.
18 Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
Before downfall [goeth] pride, and before stumbling, haughtiness of spirit.
19 Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide spoil with the proud.
20 Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
He that reflecteth on a matter wisely will find happiness; and whoso trusteth in the Lord—happiness attend him!
21 Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
The wise in heart is called a man of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips increaseth information.
22 Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
Intelligence is a source of life unto its possessor; but the correction of fools is folly.
23 Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
The heart of the wise maketh his mouth intelligent, and upon his lips he increaseth information.
24 Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
[Like] the droppings of honey are pleasant sayings, sweet to the soul, and healing to the bones.
25 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man, but its end are the ways unto death.
26 Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
The desire of the laborer laboreth for him; for his mouth imposeth it on him.
27 Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
An ungodly man diggeth up mischief, and on his lips there is as it were a scathing fire.
28 Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
A perverse man scattereth strife; and a whisperer separateth confident friends.
29 Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
The man of violence misleadeth his neighbor, and maketh him go on a way which is not good.
30 Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
He shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things: when he compresseth his lips then hath he fully resolved on evil.
31 Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
An ornamental crown is the hoary head, on the way of righteousness can it be found.
32 Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
One that is slow to anger is better than a hero; and he that ruleth his spirit, than the conqueror of a city.
33 Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
In the lap the lot is cast: but from the Lord cometh the whole of its decision.
