Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
Just as with the dividing of the waters, so also is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord. He shall bend it whichever way he wills.
2 Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
Every way of a man seems right to himself. But the Lord weighs hearts.
3 Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
To do mercy and judgment is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifices.
4 Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
To lift up the eyes is to enlarge the heart. The lamp of the impious is sin.
5 Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
The intentions of the robust continually bring forth abundance. But all the lazy are continually in need.
6 Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
Whoever gathers treasures by a lying tongue is vain and heartless. And he will stumble into the snares of death.
7 Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The robberies of the impious will drag them down, because they were not willing to do judgment.
8 Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
The perverse way of a man is foreign. But whoever is pure: his work is upright.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with a contentious woman and in a shared house.
10 Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
The soul of the impious desires evil; he will not take pity on his neighbor.
11 Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
When the pestilent is punished, a little one will become wiser. And if he pursues what is wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
The just thinks carefully about the house of the impious, so that he may draw the impious away from evil.
13 Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
Whoever blocks his ears to the outcry of the poor shall also cry out himself, and he will not be heeded.
14 Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
A surprise gift extinguishes anger. And a gift concealed in the bosom extinguishes the greatest indignation.
15 Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
It is gladness for the just to do judgment; and it is dread for those who work iniquity.
16 Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
A man who wanders astray from the way of doctrine will linger in the company of the giants.
17 Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
Whoever loves a feast will be in deprivation. Whoever loves wine and fatness will not be enriched.
18 Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
The impious is given over instead of the just, and the iniquitous is given over in place of the upright.
19 Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
It is better to live in a deserted land, than with a quarrelsome and emotional woman.
20 Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
There is desirable treasure, as well as oil, in the habitations of the just. And the imprudent man will waste it.
21 Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
Whoever follows justice and mercy shall discover life, justice, and glory.
22 Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
The wise has ascended the city of the strong, and he has torn down the bulwark of its confidence.
23 Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue guards his soul from anguish.
24 Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
A proud and arrogant one is also called ignorant, if he, in anger, acts according to pride.
25 Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
Desires kill the lazy, for his hands are not willing to work at all.
26 Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
He covets and desires all day long. But whoever is just shall distribute and shall not cease.
27 Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
The sacrifices of the impious are abominable, because they are offered out of wickedness.
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
A lying witness will perish. An obedient man shall speak of victory.
29 Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
The impious man insolently hardens his face. But whoever is upright corrects his own way.
30 Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel, which is against the Lord.
31 Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle. But the Lord bestows salvation.
