Proverbs 21
1 As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it whithersoever he may desire to point out.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
2 Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
3 To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
4 A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
6 He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
7 Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
9 [It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
10 The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
11 When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
12 A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
13 He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
14 A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
15 [It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
16 A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
17 A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
18 and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
19 [It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
20 A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
22 A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
23 He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
24 A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
25 Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
27 The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
28 A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
29 An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
