Izaga 11
1 Isikali esikhohlisayo siyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa ilitshe lokulinganisa elipheleleyo liyintokozo yayo.
False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable to him.
2 Nxa kufika ukuzigqaja, kufika lehlazo; kodwa kwabathobekileyo kukhona inhlakanipho.
Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom.
3 Ubuqotho babaqotho buzabaqondisa, kodwa ukuphambeka kwabaphambekayo kuzababhubhisa.
When a just man dies he leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.
4 Inotho kayisizi ngosuku lolaka, kodwa ukulunga kophula ekufeni.
[Possessions will not profit in a day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death. ]
5 Ukulunga kwabaqotho kuzaqondisa indlela yakhe, kodwa okhohlakeleyo uzakuwa ngenkohlakalo yakhe.
Righteousness traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.
6 Ukulunga kwabaqotho kuzabophula, kodwa abaphambukayo bazathunjwa zinkanuko zabo.
The righteousness of upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.
7 Nxa umuntu okhohlakeleyo esifa, ithemba lakhe lizabhubha, lethemba lolamandla liyabhubha.
At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.
8 Olungileyo ukhululwa ekuhluphekeni, kodwa omubi ungena endaweni yakhe.
A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.
9 Ngomlomo umzenzisi uchitha umakhelwane wakhe, kodwa ngolwazi abalungileyo bayakhululwa.
In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.
10 Ngempumelelo yabalungileyo umuzi uyathokoza; lekubhubheni kwabakhohlakeleyo kulenjabulo.
In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: but by the mouth of ungodly men it is overthrown.
11 Ngesibusiso sabaqotho umuzi uyaphakanyiswa, kodwa ngomlomo wabakhohlakeleyo uyachitheka.
[At the blessing of the upright a city shall be exalted. ]
12 Oswela ingqondo udelela umakhelwane, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uyazithulela.
A man void of understanding sneers at [his fellow] citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.
13 Ohamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo, kodwa othembekileyo ngomoya ufihla udaba.
A double-tongued man discloses the [secret] counsels of an assembly: but he that is faithful in spirit conceals matters.
14 Lapho kungekho izeluleko abantu bayawa; kodwa ukukhululwa kusebunengini babeluleki.
They that have no guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety.
15 Oba yisibambiso sowezizwe uzahlupheka ngokubi; kodwa ozonda ukutshaya izandla uvikelekile.
A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.
16 Owesifazana olomusa ubamba udumo, labalamandla babamba inotho.
A gracious wife brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonour. The slothful come to lack: but the diligent support themselves with wealth.
17 Umuntu olomusa wenzela umphefumulo wakhe okuhle, kodwa olesihluku ukhathaza inyama yakhe.
A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.
18 Okhohlakeleyo wenza umsebenzi wenkohliso, kodwa ohlanyela ukulunga ulomvuzo weqiniso.
An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.
19 Njengoba ukulunga kungokwempilo, kunjalo ozingela okubi kungokokufa kwakhe.
A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly [ends] in death.
20 Abaphambeneyo ngenhliziyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa abaqotho ngendlela bayintokozo yayo.
Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.
21 Isandla esandleni omubi kayikuyekelwa ukujeziswa, kodwa inzalo yabalungileyo izaphepha.
He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness he shall receive a faithful reward.
22 Ulisongo legolide empumulweni yengulube owesifazana obukekayo ophambuka engqondweni.
As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded women.
23 Isifiso sabalungileyo singokuhle kuphela; ithemba labakhohlakeleyo lulaka.
All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
24 Kukhona ohlakazayo, kube kanti okunengi kuyengezwa; logodla okwedlula okufaneleyo, kodwa kungokokuswela.
There are [some] who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are [some] also who gather, [yet] have less.
25 Umphefumulo obusisayo uzakhuluphaliswa, lothelelayo uzathelelwa laye.
Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful.
26 Ogodla amabele, abantu bazamqalekisa; kodwa isibusiso sizakuba phezu kwekhanda lothengisayo.
May he that hoards corn leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives [it].
27 Odingisisa okuhle, udinga umusa; kodwa odinga okubi, kuzakuza kuye.
He that devises good [counsels] seeks good favour: but [as for] him that seeks after evil, [evil] shall overtake him.
28 Othemba inotho yakhe yena uzakuwa, kodwa abalungileyo bazahluma njengamahlamvu.
He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise.
29 Oletha inkathazo emzini wakhe uzakudla ilifa lomoya, lesithutha sizakuba yinceku yohlakaniphileyo ngenhliziyo.
He that deals not graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.
30 Isithelo solungileyo siyisihlahla sempilo, lozuza imiphefumulo uhlakaniphile.
Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.
31 Khangela, olungileyo uzavuzwa emhlabeni; kakhulu kangakanani omubi lesoni!
If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
