Izaga 11
1 Isikali esikhohlisayo siyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa ilitshe lokulinganisa elipheleleyo liyintokozo yayo.
The Lord hates dishonest scales, but accurate weights please him.
2 Nxa kufika ukuzigqaja, kufika lehlazo; kodwa kwabathobekileyo kukhona inhlakanipho.
With pride comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 Ubuqotho babaqotho buzabaqondisa, kodwa ukuphambeka kwabaphambekayo kuzababhubhisa.
Honesty guides the good, but deceit destroys liars.
4 Inotho kayisizi ngosuku lolaka, kodwa ukulunga kophula ekufeni.
Wealth won't help you on judgment day, but goodness saves you from death.
5 Ukulunga kwabaqotho kuzaqondisa indlela yakhe, kodwa okhohlakeleyo uzakuwa ngenkohlakalo yakhe.
The goodness of the innocent keeps them on track, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 Ukulunga kwabaqotho kuzabophula, kodwa abaphambukayo bazathunjwa zinkanuko zabo.
The goodness of those who live right will save them, but the dishonest are trapped by their own desires.
7 Nxa umuntu okhohlakeleyo esifa, ithemba lakhe lizabhubha, lethemba lolamandla liyabhubha.
When a wicked person dies, their hopes die with them; what the godless look forward to is gone.
8 Olungileyo ukhululwa ekuhluphekeni, kodwa omubi ungena endaweni yakhe.
The good are saved from trouble, while the wicked get into trouble.
9 Ngomlomo umzenzisi uchitha umakhelwane wakhe, kodwa ngolwazi abalungileyo bayakhululwa.
Godless people mouth off and destroy their neighbors, but the good are saved by wisdom.
10 Ngempumelelo yabalungileyo umuzi uyathokoza; lekubhubheni kwabakhohlakeleyo kulenjabulo.
The whole town celebrates when good people are successful; they also shout for joy when the wicked die.
11 Ngesibusiso sabaqotho umuzi uyaphakanyiswa, kodwa ngomlomo wabakhohlakeleyo uyachitheka.
Ethical people are a blessing to a town, but what the wicked say destroys it.
12 Oswela ingqondo udelela umakhelwane, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uyazithulela.
People who run down their neighbors have no sense; someone who's sensible keeps quiet.
13 Ohamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo, kodwa othembekileyo ngomoya ufihla udaba.
A gossip goes around telling secrets, but trustworthy people keep confidences.
14 Lapho kungekho izeluleko abantu bayawa; kodwa ukukhululwa kusebunengini babeluleki.
A nation falls without good guidance, but they are saved through much wise counsel.
15 Oba yisibambiso sowezizwe uzahlupheka ngokubi; kodwa ozonda ukutshaya izandla uvikelekile.
You'll get into trouble if you guarantee a stranger's loans—you're far safer if you refuse to make such pledges.
16 Owesifazana olomusa ubamba udumo, labalamandla babamba inotho.
A gracious woman holds on to her honor just as ruthless men hold on to their wealth.
17 Umuntu olomusa wenzela umphefumulo wakhe okuhle, kodwa olesihluku ukhathaza inyama yakhe.
If you're kind, you'll be rewarded; but if you're cruel, you'll hurt yourself.
18 Okhohlakeleyo wenza umsebenzi wenkohliso, kodwa ohlanyela ukulunga ulomvuzo weqiniso.
The wicked earn wages that cheat them, but those who sow goodness reap a genuine reward.
19 Njengoba ukulunga kungokwempilo, kunjalo ozingela okubi kungokokufa kwakhe.
Do what's right, and you will live; chase after evil and you will die.
20 Abaphambeneyo ngenhliziyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa abaqotho ngendlela bayintokozo yayo.
The Lord hates perverted minds, but is happy with those who live moral lives.
21 Isandla esandleni omubi kayikuyekelwa ukujeziswa, kodwa inzalo yabalungileyo izaphepha.
You can be certain of this: the wicked won't go unpunished, but the good will be saved.
22 Ulisongo legolide empumulweni yengulube owesifazana obukekayo ophambuka engqondweni.
A beautiful woman who lacks good judgment is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
23 Isifiso sabalungileyo singokuhle kuphela; ithemba labakhohlakeleyo lulaka.
Good people want what's best, but what the wicked hope for ends in death.
24 Kukhona ohlakazayo, kube kanti okunengi kuyengezwa; logodla okwedlula okufaneleyo, kodwa kungokokuswela.
If you give generously you receive more, but if you keep back what you should give, you end up poor.
25 Umphefumulo obusisayo uzakhuluphaliswa, lothelelayo uzathelelwa laye.
If you're generous, you'll become rich; give someone a drink of water, and you'll be given one in return.
26 Ogodla amabele, abantu bazamqalekisa; kodwa isibusiso sizakuba phezu kwekhanda lothengisayo.
People curse those who hoard grain; but they bless those who sell.
27 Odingisisa okuhle, udinga umusa; kodwa odinga okubi, kuzakuza kuye.
If you look to do good, you'll be appreciated; but if you look for evil, you'll find it!
28 Othemba inotho yakhe yena uzakuwa, kodwa abalungileyo bazahluma njengamahlamvu.
If you trust in your riches, you'll fall; but if you do good, you'll flourish like green leaves.
29 Oletha inkathazo emzini wakhe uzakudla ilifa lomoya, lesithutha sizakuba yinceku yohlakaniphileyo ngenhliziyo.
If you cause trouble in your family, you'll inherit nothing but air. Stupid people end up as servants to those who think wisely.
30 Isithelo solungileyo siyisihlahla sempilo, lozuza imiphefumulo uhlakaniphile.
The fruit of the good is a tree of life, and the wise person saves people.
31 Khangela, olungileyo uzavuzwa emhlabeni; kakhulu kangakanani omubi lesoni!
If the good are repaid here on earth, how much more will the wicked who sin be repaid!
