Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
The king’s heart is in the LORD’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
2 Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
3 Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6 Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapour for those who seek death.
7 Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbour finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14 Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15 Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
17 Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe.
He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
18 Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
19 Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
21 Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honour.
22 Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
25 Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labour.
26 Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
27 Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
29 Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
30 Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31 Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
