< Izaga 11 >

1 Isikali esikhohlisayo siyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa ilitshe lokulinganisa elipheleleyo liyintokozo yayo.
Yahweh hates scales that are not accurate, but he delights in a precise weight.
2 Nxa kufika ukuzigqaja, kufika lehlazo; kodwa kwabathobekileyo kukhona inhlakanipho.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 Ubuqotho babaqotho buzabaqondisa, kodwa ukuphambeka kwabaphambekayo kuzababhubhisa.
The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crooked ways of the treacherous destroy them.
4 Inotho kayisizi ngosuku lolaka, kodwa ukulunga kophula ekufeni.
Wealth is worthless on the day of wrath, but doing right keeps you from death.
5 Ukulunga kwabaqotho kuzaqondisa indlela yakhe, kodwa okhohlakeleyo uzakuwa ngenkohlakalo yakhe.
The right conduct of a blameless person makes his way straight, but the wicked will fall because of their own wickedness.
6 Ukulunga kwabaqotho kuzabophula, kodwa abaphambukayo bazathunjwa zinkanuko zabo.
The right conduct of those who please God keeps them safe, but the treacherous are trapped by their cravings.
7 Nxa umuntu okhohlakeleyo esifa, ithemba lakhe lizabhubha, lethemba lolamandla liyabhubha.
When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes and the hope that was in his strength comes to nothing.
8 Olungileyo ukhululwa ekuhluphekeni, kodwa omubi ungena endaweni yakhe.
The righteous person is kept away from trouble and it comes upon the wicked instead.
9 Ngomlomo umzenzisi uchitha umakhelwane wakhe, kodwa ngolwazi abalungileyo bayakhululwa.
With his mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge righteous people are kept safe.
10 Ngempumelelo yabalungileyo umuzi uyathokoza; lekubhubheni kwabakhohlakeleyo kulenjabulo.
When righteous people prosper, a city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
11 Ngesibusiso sabaqotho umuzi uyaphakanyiswa, kodwa ngomlomo wabakhohlakeleyo uyachitheka.
Through the good gifts of those who please God, the city becomes great; by the mouth of the wicked, the city is torn down.
12 Oswela ingqondo udelela umakhelwane, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uyazithulela.
The man who has contempt for his friend has no sense, but a man of understanding keeps quiet.
13 Ohamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo, kodwa othembekileyo ngomoya ufihla udaba.
Whoever goes around slandering reveals secrets, but a faithful person keeps a matter covered.
14 Lapho kungekho izeluleko abantu bayawa; kodwa ukukhululwa kusebunengini babeluleki.
Where there is no wise direction, a nation falls, but victory comes by consulting many advisors.
15 Oba yisibambiso sowezizwe uzahlupheka ngokubi; kodwa ozonda ukutshaya izandla uvikelekile.
Whoever guarantees a loan for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but the one who hates giving a pledge in that kind of promise is safe.
16 Owesifazana olomusa ubamba udumo, labalamandla babamba inotho.
A gracious woman gets honor, but ruthless people grasp for wealth.
17 Umuntu olomusa wenzela umphefumulo wakhe okuhle, kodwa olesihluku ukhathaza inyama yakhe.
A kind person benefits himself, but one who is cruel hurts himself.
18 Okhohlakeleyo wenza umsebenzi wenkohliso, kodwa ohlanyela ukulunga ulomvuzo weqiniso.
The wicked person lies to get his wages, but one who sows what is right reaps the wages of truth.
19 Njengoba ukulunga kungokwempilo, kunjalo ozingela okubi kungokokufa kwakhe.
An honest person who does what is right will live, but the one who pursues evil will die.
20 Abaphambeneyo ngenhliziyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa abaqotho ngendlela bayintokozo yayo.
Yahweh hates those whose hearts are perverse, but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
21 Isandla esandleni omubi kayikuyekelwa ukujeziswa, kodwa inzalo yabalungileyo izaphepha.
Be sure of this—the wicked person will not go unpunished, but the descendants of righteous people will be kept safe.
22 Ulisongo legolide empumulweni yengulube owesifazana obukekayo ophambuka engqondweni.
Like a gold ring in a pig's nose is a beautiful woman without discretion.
23 Isifiso sabalungileyo singokuhle kuphela; ithemba labakhohlakeleyo lulaka.
The desires of righteous people result in good, but wicked people can only hope for wrath.
24 Kukhona ohlakazayo, kube kanti okunengi kuyengezwa; logodla okwedlula okufaneleyo, kodwa kungokokuswela.
There is one who scatters—he will accumulate even more; another withholds what he should give—he comes to poverty.
25 Umphefumulo obusisayo uzakhuluphaliswa, lothelelayo uzathelelwa laye.
The generous person will prosper and the one who gives water to others will have water for himself.
26 Ogodla amabele, abantu bazamqalekisa; kodwa isibusiso sizakuba phezu kwekhanda lothengisayo.
People curse the man who refuses to sell grain, but good gifts crown the head of him who sells it.
27 Odingisisa okuhle, udinga umusa; kodwa odinga okubi, kuzakuza kuye.
The one who diligently seeks good is also seeking favor, but the one who searches for evil will find it.
28 Othemba inotho yakhe yena uzakuwa, kodwa abalungileyo bazahluma njengamahlamvu.
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but like the leaf, righteous people will flourish.
29 Oletha inkathazo emzini wakhe uzakudla ilifa lomoya, lesithutha sizakuba yinceku yohlakaniphileyo ngenhliziyo.
The one who brings trouble on his own household will inherit the wind and the fool will become a servant to the wise of heart.
30 Isithelo solungileyo siyisihlahla sempilo, lozuza imiphefumulo uhlakaniphile.
The righteous person will be like a tree of life, but violence takes away lives.
31 Khangela, olungileyo uzavuzwa emhlabeni; kakhulu kangakanani omubi lesoni!
Behold! The righteous person receives what he deserves; how much more the wicked and the sinner!

< Izaga 11 >