Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
The king’s heart is in the LORD’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
2 Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
3 Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
6 Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
7 Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
10 Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
14 Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
15 Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
17 Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
19 Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
21 Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
23 Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
25 Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
26 Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.
27 Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
29 Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
30 Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31 Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
