Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2 Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3 Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
4 Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
5 Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
6 Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
7 Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
8 Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10 Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
11 Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
13 Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14 Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
15 Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
16 Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
17 Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe.
If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
18 Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
19 Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20 Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21 Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23 Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
24 Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25 Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
26 Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
27 Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29 Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
30 Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
31 Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
