Izaga 16
1 Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
To man belongeth the preparation of the heart; But 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 pure in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the spirit.
3 Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
Commit thy doings to the LORD, And thy purposes shall be established.
4 UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
The LORD hath ordained every thing for its end; Yea, 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; From generation to generation he shall not be unpunished.
6 Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
Through kindness and truth, iniquity is expiated; And, through 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 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 revenues without right.
9 Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
The heart of man deviseth his way, But the LORD establisheth his steps.
10 Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
A divine sentence is upon the lips of a king; His mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11 Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
A just balance and scales are the appointment of the LORD; All the weights of the bag are his work.
12 Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
The doing of wickedness is an abomination to kings; For by righteousness is the throne established.
13 Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaketh right things.
14 Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
The wrath of a king is 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 a like a cloud bringing the latter rain.
16 Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
17 Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
It is the highway of the upright to depart from evil; He that taketh heed to his way preserveth his life.
18 Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
Better is it to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to share the spoil with the proud.
20 Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
He who giveth heed to the word shall find good; And he who trusteth in the LORD, happy is he!
21 Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
The wise in heart shall be called intelligent, And sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
Understanding is a wellspring of life to him that hath it. And the chastisement of fools is their folly.
23 Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
The heart of the wise man instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
24 Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweet to the taste, and health to the bones.
25 Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
There is a way that seemeth right to a man, But the end thereof is the way to death.
26 Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
The hunger of the laborer laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him on.
27 Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
A worthless man diggeth mischief, And on his lips there is, as it were, a burning fire.
28 Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
A deceitful man stirreth up strife, And a whisperer separateth friends.
29 Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him into a way which is not good.
30 Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
He who shutteth his eyes to devise fraud, He who compresseth his lips, hath accomplished mischief!
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 who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he who ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.
33 Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole decision thereof is from the LORD.
