Proverbs 16
1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
Umuntu angawabumba amacebo ngenhliziyo yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye omupha amazwi okuwachaza.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the motives.
Umuntu angabona sengathi zonke izindlela zakhe ziqondile, kodwa uThixo uyazihlolisisa zonke injongo zomuntu.
3 Commit your deeds to Yahweh, and your plans shall succeed.
Nikela kuThixo konke okwenzayo, kuzaphumelelisa wonke amacebo akho.
4 Yahweh has made everything for its own end— yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.
UThixo uzilungisele isiphetho sakho konke kanye lababi usuku lokubhujiswa.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; they shall certainly not be unpunished.
UThixo uyabazonda bonke abazikhukhumezayo. Ngempela kabayikuphepha ukujeziswa.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for. By the fear of Yahweh men depart from evil.
Isono siyahlawulelwa ngothando langokwethembeka; ngokwesaba uThixo umuntu uyaphepha ebubini.
7 When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Nxa izindlela zomuntu zimthokozisa uThixo, uyenza lezitha zakhe zihlalisane laye ngokuthula.
8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
Kungcono ukuzuza okulutshwana ngendlela elungileyo kulokuzuza okunengi ngobuqili.
9 A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps.
Umuntu angalungisa indlela yakhe engqondweni yakhe, kodwa uThixo nguye olawula izinyathelo zakhe.
10 Inspired judgments are on the lips of the king. He shall not betray his mouth.
Izindebe zombusi zikhuluma kungathi lidlozi ngakho umlomo wakhe kawungaphambuli umthetho.
11 Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
Izilinganiso eziqondileyo zivela kuThixo; zonke izisindo ezisemgodleni zenziwa nguye.
12 It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
Amakhosi ayakuzonda ukwenza okubi, ngoba isihlalo sobukhosi sakhelwe phezu kokulunga.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
Amakhosi athokoziswa yizindebe ezithembekileyo; ayamazisa umuntu okhuluma iqiniso.
14 The king’s wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.
Ulaka lwenkosi luyisithunywa sokufa, kodwa umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uyaluxolisa.
15 In the light of the king’s face is life. His favor is like a cloud of the spring rain.
Nxa ubuso benkosi bulentokozo, kukhomba ukuphila; ukuthandwa yiyo kunjengeyezi lezulu entwasa.
16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.
Kungcono kangakanani ukuzuza ukuhlakanipha kulegolide, ukukhetha ukuzwisisa kulesiliva!
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
Umgwaqo womuntu oqotho uceza ububi; lowo onanzelelayo indlela yakhe unanzelela impilo yakhe.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.
Ukuzigqaja kwandulela ukubhujiswa, umoya omubi ulandelwa yikuwa.
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
Kungcono umoya othobekileyo lokuhlala kwabancindezelweyo kulokwabelana impango labazigqajayo.
20 He who heeds the Word finds prosperity. Whoever trusts in Yahweh is blessed.
Lowo olalela izeluleko uyaphumelela, njalo ubusisiwe lowo othemba uThixo.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent. Pleasantness of the lips promotes instruction.
Abahlakaniphileyo enhliziyweni kuthiwa bayaqedisisa, njalo amazwi amnandi aqinisa izeluleko.
22 Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the punishment of fools is their folly.
Ukuzwisisa kungumthombo wokuphila kulabo abalakho, kodwa ubuwula buletha isijeziso eziwuleni.
23 The heart of the wise instructs his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
Inhliziyo yomuntu ohlakaniphileyo ikhokhela umlomo wakhe, kanti lezindebe zakhe zikhuthaza izeluleko.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Amazwi amahle alikhekheba loluju, amnandi emphefumulweni njalo ayelapha emathanjeni.
25 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Kukhona indlela ebonakala ilungile emuntwini, kodwa isiphetho sayo siyikufa.
26 The appetite of the laboring man labors for him, for his mouth urges him on.
Isisebenzi sifuqwa liphango ukusebenza kakhulu; ukulamba yikho okusikhuthazayo.
27 A worthless man devises mischief. His speech is like a scorching fire.
Isixhwali siceba ububi, lenkulumo yaso injengomlilo ohaqazayo.
28 A perverse man stirs up strife. A whisperer separates close friends.
Umuntu ongelangqondo udaza inkani, njalo lomuntu onyeyayo wehlukanisa abangane.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good.
Umuntu wodlakela uhuga umakhelwane wakhe amholele endleleni engalunganga.
30 One who winks his eyes to plot perversities, one who compresses his lips, is bent on evil.
Lowo ofica ngelihlo lakhe uceba izibozi; lowo oluma indebe zakhe uqonde ububi.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
Inwele ezimhlophe zingumqhele wobukhulu, zizuzwa ngempilo elungileyo.
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty; one who rules his spirit, than he who takes a city.
Ungcono umuntu obekezelayo kuleqhawe, umuntu ozinqandayo ulaka lwakhe kulalowo othumba idolobho.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from Yahweh.
Inkatho iphoselwa enkundleni, kodwa isinqumo sayo sisemandleni kaThixo.
