Izaga 16
1 Umuntu ulamacebo enhliziyo, kodwa impendulo yolimi ivela eNkosini.
All the works of the humble [man] are manifest with God; but the ungodly shall perish in an evil day.
2 Zonke indlela zomuntu zihlanzekile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ilinganisa imimoya.
3 Giqela eNkosini imisebenzi yakho, lamacebo akho azaqiniswa.
4 INkosi izenzele konke, lomubi laye usuku lobubi.
5 Wonke ozigqajayo ngenhliziyo uyisinengiso eNkosini; isandla esandleni, kayikuyekelwa engajeziswanga.
Every one that is proud in heart is unclean before God, and he that unjustly strikes hands with hand shall not be held guiltless. The beginning of a good way is to do justly; and it is more acceptable with God than to offer sacrifices. He that seeks the Lord shall find knowledge with righteousness: and they that rightly seek him shall find peace. All of the works of the Lord [are done] with righteousness; and the ungodly [man] is kept for the evil day.
6 Ngomusa leqiniso isono siyahlawulelwa, langokuyesaba iNkosi umuntu uyasuka ebubini.
7 Nxa indlela zomuntu zithokozisa iNkosi, iyenza lezitha zakhe zibe lokuthula laye.
8 Okulutshwana kanye lokulunga kungcono kulobunengi benzuzo engelakulunga.
9 Inhliziyo yomuntu iceba indlela yakhe, kodwa iNkosi iqondisa inyathelo lakhe.
10 Isinqumo sikaNkulunkulu sisendebeni zenkosi; umlomo wayo kawuyikuphambeka kusahlulelo.
[There is] an oracle upon the lips of a king; and his mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Isikali lesilinganiso esilungileyo kungokweNkosi; wonke amatshe okulinganisa omgodla angumsebenzi wayo.
The poise of the balance is righteousness with the Lord; and his works are righteous measures.
12 Kuyisinengiso emakhosini ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi simiswa ngokulunga.
An evil-doer is an abomination to a king; for the throne of rule is established by righteousness.
13 Indebe zokulunga ziyintokozo yamakhosi; iyathanda okhuluma izinto eziqondileyo.
Righteous lips are acceptable to a king; and he loves right words.
14 Ulaka lombusi luyizithunywa zokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzaluthulisa.
The anger of a king is a messenger of death; but a wise man will pacify him.
15 Ekukhanyeni kobuso benkosi kulempilo, lomusa wayo unjengeyezi lezulu lamuva.
The son of a king is in the light of life; and they that are in favour with him are as a cloud of latter rain.
16 Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza inhlakanipho kulegolide; lokuzuza ukuqedisisa kukhethwa kulesiliva.
The brood of wisdom is more to be chosen than gold, and the brood of prudence more to be chosen than silver.
17 Umgwaqo omkhulu wabaqotho yikusuka ebubini; olondoloza umphefumulo wakhe unanzelela indlela yakhe.
The paths of life turn aside from evil; and the ways of righteousness are length of life. He that receives instruction shall be in prosperity; and he that regards reproofs shall be made wise. He that keeps his ways, preserves his own soul; and he that loves his life will spare his mouth.
18 Ukuzigqaja kuqalela ukubhujiswa, lokuziphakamisa komoya kuqalela ukuwa.
Pride goes before destruction, and folly before a fall.
19 Kungcono ukuthobeka ngomoya kanye labamnene, kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
Better is a meek-spirited [man] with lowliness, than one who divides spoils with the proud.
20 Ophatha udaba ngenhlakanipho uzathola okuhle; lothemba eNkosini uyathaba.
[He who is] skillful in business finds good: but he that trusts in God is most blessed.
21 Ohlakaniphileyo ngenhliziyo kuthiwa ngoqedisisayo; lobumnandi bendebe bandisa imfundiso.
[Men] call the wise and understanding evil: but they that are pleasing in speech shall hear more.
22 Ukuqedisisa kwabalakho kungumthombo wempilo, kodwa ukulaya kwezithutha kuyibuthutha.
Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessors; but the instruction of fools is evil.
23 Ingqondo yohlakaniphileyo yenza umlomo wakhe uhlakaniphe, izakwandisa imfundiso endebeni zakhe.
The heart of the wise will discern the [things which proceed] from his own mouth; and on his lips he will wear knowledge.
24 Amazwi amnandi aluhlanga loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni, ayimpiliso emathanjeni.
Good words are honeycombs, and the sweetness thereof is a healing of the soul.
25 Kukhona indlela ebonakala iqondile emuntwini, kodwa ukuphela kwayo zindlela zokufa.
There are ways that seem to be right to a man, but the end of them looks to the depth of hell. (questioned)
26 Indlala yomtshikatshiki iyazitshikatshikela, ngoba umlomo wakhe uyamkhuthaza.
A man who labours, labours for himself, and drives from [him] his own ruin.
27 Umuntu omubi ugebha ububi; lendebeni zakhe kulokunjengomlilo otshisayo.
But the perverse bears destruction upon his own mouth: a foolish man digs up evil for himself, and treasures fire on his own lips.
28 Umuntu ophambeneyo ungenisa ingxabano, lonyeyayo wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
A perverse man spreads mischief, and will kindle a torch of deceit with mischiefs; and he separates friends.
29 Umuntu wobudlwangudlwangu uhuga umakhelwane wakhe, amhambise ngendlela engalunganga.
A transgressor tries [to ensnare] friends, and leads them in ways [that are] not good.
30 Uvala amehlo akhe ukuceba izinto eziphambeneyo, eluma indebe zakhe aqede ububi.
And the man that fixes his eyes devises perverse things, and marks out with his lips all evil: he is a furnace of wickedness.
31 Izimvu zekhanda zingumqhele wodumo; zitholakala endleleni yokulunga.
Old age is a crown of honour, but it is found in the ways of righteousness.
32 Ophuza ukuthukuthela ungcono kuleqhawe, lobusa umoya wakhe kulothumba umuzi.
A man slow to anger is better than a strong [man]; and he that governs [his] temper better than he that takes a city.
33 Inkatho iphoselwa ethangazini, kodwa isinqumo sayo sonke sivela eNkosini.
All [evils] come upon the ungodly into [their] bosoms; but all righteous things [come] of the Lord.
