Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
As streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.
3 Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
To do justice and equity Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.
5 Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; But the hasty hasteneth only to want.
6 Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
The getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that seek death.
7 Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
8 Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
The way of the guilty man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are right.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large house.
10 Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
The soul of the wicked longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion in his eyes.
11 Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
The righteous man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into ruin.
13 Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry aloud, but shall not be heard.
14 Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
To do justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do iniquity.
16 Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
A man who wandereth from the way of discretion Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
He that loveth pleasure will be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous! And in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.
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.
Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them up.
21 Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
He who followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength in which it trusted.
23 Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from trouble.
24 Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.
25 Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
The desire of the sluggard will destroy him; For his hands refuse to labor.
26 Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth 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 bringeth it with an evil design!
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
A false witness shall perish; But a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.
29 Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth his way.
30 Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, against the LORD.
31 Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle; But victory is from the LORD.
