Proverbs 21
1 The king's heart is in the LORD's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isesandleni sikaJehova injengezifula zamanzi; uyiphendulela loba ngaphi athanda khona.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.
Yonke indlela yomuntu ilungile emehlweni akhe, kodwa iNkosi ihlola izinhliziyo.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Ukwenza ukulunga lesahlulelo kukhethekile eNkosini kulomhlatshelo.
4 A high look, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Ukuphakama kwamehlo, lokuzigqaja kwenhliziyo, lokulima kwabakhohlakeleyo, kuyisono.
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
Imicabango yokhutheleyo isenzuzweni kuphela, kodwa eyakhe wonke ophangisayo isekusweleni kuphela.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
Ukwenza inotho ngolimi lwamanga kuyize eliphephukayo elalabo abadinga ukufa.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
Isihluku sababi sizabahudula, ngoba besala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Indlela yomuntu igobile njalo ilecala, kodwa ohlanzekileyo, umsebenzi wakhe uqondile.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala engonsini yophahla kulalowesifazana wezinkani lendlini yokuhlanganyela.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
Umphefumulo wokhohlakeleyo uloyisa ububi; umakhelwane wakhe kemukeli umusa emehlweni akhe.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Nxa isideleli sijeziswa, umuntu ongelalwazi uyahlakanipha; lalapho ohlakaniphileyo elaywa wemukela ulwazi.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
Olungileyo uyananzelela indlu yokhohlakeleyo; uNkulunkulu uwisela abakhohlakeleyo ebubini.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
Ogcika indlebe yakhe ekukhaleni komyanga, laye uzakhala angaphendulwa.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger; and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
Isipho sensitha siyadedisa intukuthelo, lesivalamlomo esifubeni ulaka olulamandla.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to evildoers.
Kuyintokozo kolungileyo ukwenza ukulunga, kodwa kuluvalo kubenzi bobubi.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
Umuntu oduha endleleni yokuqedisisa uzahlala ebandleni lemimoya efileyo.
17 He who loves pleasure shall be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil shall not be rich.
Othanda injabulo uzakuba ngumyanga; othanda iwayini lamafutha kayikunotha.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; the treacherous for the upright.
Okhohlakeleyo uyinhlawulelo yolungileyo, lesiphambeki esikhundleni sabaqotho.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala elizweni eliyinkangala kulalowesifazana wezingxabano lolaka.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.
Kukhona imfuyo eloyisekayo lamafutha emzini wohlakaniphileyo, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha uyakuginya.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Oxotshana lokulunga lomusa uzathola impilo, ukulunga, lodumo.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
Ohlakaniphileyo ukhwela emzini wamaqhawe, adilizele phansi amandla ethemba lawo.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Ogcina umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe, ugcina umphefumulo wakhe ezinkathazweni.
24 The proud and haughty man, "scoffer" is his name; he works in the arrogance of pride.
Isideleli esizikhukhumezayo esizigqajayo libizo lakhe osebenza ngolaka lokuzikhukhumeza.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
Isiloyiso sevila sizalibulala, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and do not withhold.
Usuku lonke liloyisa isiloyiso, kodwa olungileyo uzakupha, angagodli.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind.
Umhlatshelo wabakhohlakeleyo uyisinengiso; kakhulu kangakanani nxa bewuletha ngecebo elibi.
28 A false witness will perish, and a man who listens speaks to eternity.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kodwa umuntu olalelayo uzakhuluma njalonjalo.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
Umuntu okhohlakeleyo wenza lukhuni ubuso bakhe, kodwa oqotho yena uyananzelela indlela yakhe.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
Kakulanhlakanipho, njalo kakulakuqedisisa, njalo kakulaseluleko, okumelana leNkosi.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with the LORD.
Ibhiza lilungiselwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukukhululwa ngokweNkosi.
