Proverbs 21
1 The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
2 People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
3 Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
4 Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
5 Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
6 Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
7 The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
9 It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
10 Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
11 When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
12 The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
13 If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
14 A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
15 When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
16 Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
17 If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe.
18 The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
19 It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
20 The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
21 If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
22 The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
23 If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
24 A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
25 Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
27 The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
28 The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
29 The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
30 Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
31 You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
