Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
Like brooks of water is a king's heart in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever it pleaseth him doth he turn it.
2 Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
Every way of a man is straight in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the hearts.
3 Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
To exercise righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
Haughtiness of the eyes, and an immoderate heart, are the sinful field of the wicked.
5 Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; but every hasty man is [destined] only to want.
6 Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
The getting of treasures by a tongue of falsehood is like the fleeting breath of those that seek death.
7 Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The robbery of the wicked will drag them away; because they refuse to execute justice.
8 Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
Perverse is the way of the man that is estranged [from goodness]; but as for the pure, his work is upright.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It is better to dwell in a corner of a roof, than with a quarrelsome woman in a roomy house.
10 Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
The soul of the wicked longeth for evil: his neighbor findeth no grace in his eyes.
11 Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is taught intelligence, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
The righteous regardeth attentively the house of the wicked; [but God] overturneth the wicked into unhappiness.
13 Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
Whoso stoppeth his ears against the cry of the poor, he also will cry himself, but shall not be answered.
14 Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a bribe in the bosom, strong fury.
15 Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
It is joy to the righteous to execute justice; but it is a terror to wrong-doers.
16 Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
The man that wandereth astray out of the way of intelligence shall rest in the assembly of the departed.
17 Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
He that loveth pleasure will be a man of want: he that loveth wine and oil will not become rich.
18 Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous shall be put in the stead of the upright.
19 Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a quarrelsome and vexatious woman.
20 Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
There are a desirable treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man will swallow it up.
21 Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
He that pursueth righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength in which they trusted.
23 Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
Whoso guardeth his mouth and his tongue guardeth his soul against distresses.
24 Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
The presumptuous and proud, scorner is his name, dealeth in the wrath of presumption.
25 Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
The longing of the slothful will kill him; for his hands refuse to labor.
26 Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
All the day he feeleth a great longing; but the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
27 Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a sinful purpose?
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
A lying witness shall perish; but the man that is obedient [to the law] can speak for ever.
29 Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
A wicked man showeth impudence in his face; but as for the upright, he will consider well his way.
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 with the Lord is the victory.
