Izaga 21
1 Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
2 Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
3 Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp of the wicked—are sin.
5 Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
6 Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
7 Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is just.
8 Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.
9 Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
The appetite of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.
12 Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
13 Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
14 Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.
15 Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
16 Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
19 Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
20 Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.
21 Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
The one who does right and is kind— this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
25 Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
The desire of the lazy kills him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
All day long he craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27 Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
28 Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
29 Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.
30 Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.
31 Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.
