Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD as the watercourses: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
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 weigheth the hearts.
3 Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
An high look, and a proud heart, [even] the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5 Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness: but every one that is hasty [hasteth] only to want.
6 Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vapour driven to and fro; they [that seek them] seek death.
7 Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away; because they refuse to do judgment.
8 Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked: but as for the pure, his work is right.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
10 Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour 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 instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked; [how] the wicked are overthrown to [their] ruin.
13 Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry, 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.
It is joy to the righteous to do judgment; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
16 Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall rest in the congregation of the dead.
17 Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
18 Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; and the treacherous [cometh] 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 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 swalloweth it up.
21 Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
22 Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
The proud and haughty man, scorner is his name, he worketh in the arrogance of pride.
25 Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
There is that coveteth greedily all the day long: 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 wicked mind!
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth shall speak unchallenged.
29 Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he ordereth 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 against the day of battle: but victory is of the LORD,
