Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it wherever he may desire to point out.
2 Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
6 Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
7 Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
[It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
11 Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
14 Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgement: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
16 Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
17 Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
19 Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
[It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
22 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
27 Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
30 Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
31 Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
