Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
2 Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
3 Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
4 Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
5 Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
6 Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
7 Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
8 Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
10 Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
11 Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
13 Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
14 Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
15 Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
16 Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
17 Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
18 Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
19 Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
20 Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
21 Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
23 Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
24 Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
25 Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
26 Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
27 Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
29 Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
30 Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
31 Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
