Izaga 16
1 Umuntu ulamacebo enhliziyo, kodwa impendulo yolimi ivela eNkosini.
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 Zonke indlela zomuntu zihlanzekile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ilinganisa imimoya.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the motives.
3 Giqela eNkosini imisebenzi yakho, lamacebo akho azaqiniswa.
Commit your deeds to the LORD, and your plans shall succeed.
4 INkosi izenzele konke, lomubi laye usuku lobubi.
The LORD has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Wonke ozigqajayo ngenhliziyo uyisinengiso eNkosini; isandla esandleni, kayikuyekelwa engajeziswanga.
Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; they shall certainly not be unpunished.
6 Ngomusa leqiniso isono siyahlawulelwa, langokuyesaba iNkosi umuntu uyasuka ebubini.
By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
7 Nxa indlela zomuntu zithokozisa iNkosi, iyenza lezitha zakhe zibe lokuthula laye.
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Okulutshwana kanye lokulunga kungcono kulobunengi benzuzo engelakulunga.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
9 Inhliziyo yomuntu iceba indlela yakhe, kodwa iNkosi iqondisa inyathelo lakhe.
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD directs his steps.
10 Isinqumo sikaNkulunkulu sisendebeni zenkosi; umlomo wayo kawuyikuphambeka kusahlulelo.
Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
11 Isikali lesilinganiso esilungileyo kungokweNkosi; wonke amatshe okulinganisa omgodla angumsebenzi wayo.
Honest balances and scales are the LORD’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
12 Kuyisinengiso emakhosini ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi simiswa ngokulunga.
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Indebe zokulunga ziyintokozo yamakhosi; iyathanda okhuluma izinto eziqondileyo.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
14 Ulaka lombusi luyizithunywa zokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzaluthulisa.
The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
15 Ekukhanyeni kobuso benkosi kulempilo, lomusa wayo unjengeyezi lezulu lamuva.
In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
16 Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza inhlakanipho kulegolide; lokuzuza ukuqedisisa kukhethwa kulesiliva.
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
17 Umgwaqo omkhulu wabaqotho yikusuka ebubini; olondoloza umphefumulo wakhe unanzelela indlela yakhe.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
18 Ukuzigqaja kuqalela ukubhujiswa, lokuziphakamisa komoya kuqalela ukuwa.
Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
19 Kungcono ukuthobeka ngomoya kanye labamnene, kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
20 Ophatha udaba ngenhlakanipho uzathola okuhle; lothemba eNkosini uyathaba.
He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in the LORD is blessed.
21 Ohlakaniphileyo ngenhliziyo kuthiwa ngoqedisisayo; lobumnandi bendebe bandisa imfundiso.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
22 Ukuqedisisa kwabalakho kungumthombo wempilo, kodwa ukulaya kwezithutha kuyibuthutha.
Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
23 Ingqondo yohlakaniphileyo yenza umlomo wakhe uhlakaniphe, izakwandisa imfundiso endebeni zakhe.
The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
24 Amazwi amnandi aluhlanga loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni, ayimpiliso emathanjeni.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 Kukhona indlela ebonakala iqondile emuntwini, kodwa ukuphela kwayo zindlela zokufa.
There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
26 Indlala yomtshikatshiki iyazitshikatshikela, ngoba umlomo wakhe uyamkhuthaza.
The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
27 Umuntu omubi ugebha ububi; lendebeni zakhe kulokunjengomlilo otshisayo.
A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
28 Umuntu ophambeneyo ungenisa ingxabano, lonyeyayo wehlukanisa umngane oseduze.
A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
29 Umuntu wobudlwangudlwangu uhuga umakhelwane wakhe, amhambise ngendlela engalunganga.
A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Uvala amehlo akhe ukuceba izinto eziphambeneyo, eluma indebe zakhe aqede ububi.
One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
31 Izimvu zekhanda zingumqhele wodumo; zitholakala endleleni yokulunga.
Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
32 Ophuza ukuthukuthela ungcono kuleqhawe, lobusa umoya wakhe kulothumba umuzi.
One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
33 Inkatho iphoselwa ethangazini, kodwa isinqumo sayo sonke sivela eNkosini.
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
