Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
The king's heart in the hand of Jehovah is [as] brooks of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
3 Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
To exercise justice and judgment is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
4 Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
Lofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty, only to want.
6 Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting breath of them that seek death.
7 Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The devastation of the wicked sweepeth them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
Very crooked is the way of a guilty man; but as for the pure, his work is upright.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.
10 Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
11 Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
One that is righteous wisely considereth the house of the wicked: he overthroweth the wicked to [their] ruin.
13 Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also himself shall cry, and shall not be heard.
14 Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement fury.
15 Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
It is joy to a righteous [man] to do what is right; but it is ruin for the workers of iniquity.
16 Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
The man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom shall abide in the congregation of the dead.
17 Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe.
He that loveth mirth shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and a treacherous [man] in the stead of the upright.
19 Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
It is better to dwell in a desert land. than with a contentious and irritable woman.
20 Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
There is costly store and oil in the dwelling of a wise [man]; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21 Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
Proud, arrogant, scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath.
25 Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
The desire of the sluggard killeth him; for his hands refuse to work:
26 Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27 Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when they bring it with a wicked purpose!
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
A lying witness shall perish; and a man that heareth shall speak constantly.
29 Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he establisheth his way.
30 Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against Jehovah.
31 Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is of Jehovah.
