Proverbs 21
1 The king’s heart is in Yahweh’s hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.
Inhliziyo yenkosi isezandleni zikaThixo, uyiholela lapho athanda khona njengomsele wamanzi.
2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
Umuntu ubona kungathi zonke izindlela zakhe zilungile, kodwa uThixo uhlola inhliziyo.
3 To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
Ukwenza okulungileyo lokufaneleyo kuyathandeka kuThixo kulomhlatshelo.
4 A high look and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.
Amehlo okuzikhukhumeza lenhliziyo ezigqajayo, okuyikho okukhokhela ababi, konke yizono!
5 The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit; and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.
Amalungiselelo abakhutheleyo anika umvuzo njengoba nje amawala eletha ubuyanga.
6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.
Inotho ezuzwe ngendlela yamanga iyinkungu ememethekayo lomjibila wokufa.
7 The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
Ukuhlukuluza kwababi kuzabakhukhula, ngoba bayala ukwenza okulungileyo.
8 The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
Indlela yomuntu olecala iyathubezela, kodwa ukwenza kongelalo kuqondile.
9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than to share a house with a contentious woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala ekhulusini lophahla lwendlu kulokuhlala ndlu yinye lomfazi olomlomo.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
Umuntu omubi utshisekela ububi; kalasihawu ngomakhelwane wakhe.
11 When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
Nxa kujeziswa isideleli isithutha sizuza ukuhlakanipha; nxa ohlakaniphileyo eqondiswa uzuza ulwazi.
12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
Olungileyo uyayinanzelela indlu yesigangi kuthi lesosigangi asibhubhise.
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
Nxa umuntu egcika indlebe zakhe ukuze angezwa ukukhala kwabayanga, laye uzakuthi esekhala angalalelwa muntu.
14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.
Isipho esiphiwa ensitha siyaludedisa ulaka, lesivalamlomo esifihlwe emajazini siyakudedisa ukuthukuthela.
15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
Ukwahlulela kuhle kuthokozisa olungileyo kodwa izigangi kuzitshayisa uvalo.
16 The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.
Umuntu ophambuka endleleni yokuzwisisa ucina esendawonye labafileyo.
17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man. He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.
Lowo othanda ukuzithokozisa uzakuba ngumyanga; laloba ngubani othanda iwayini lezibondlo ngeke anothe.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, the treacherous for the upright.
Ababi baba ngumhlawulelo wabalungileyo, labangathembekanga bangumhlawulelo wabaqotho.
19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman.
Kungcono ukuhlala enkangala kulokuhlala lomfazi olenkani lothethayo.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it up.
Indlu yohlakaniphileyo igcwele amaqubaquba ezibiliboco lamafutha, kodwa umuntu oyisithutha udla aqede du konke alakho.
21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Lowo odinga ukulunga lothando uzuza ukuphila, ukuphumelela lodumo.
22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.
Umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uhlasela umuzi wabalamandla adilizele phansi inqaba abayithembileyo.
23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Lowo oqaphela umlomo wakhe lolimi lwakhe uyaziphephisa ezingozini.
24 The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name— he works in the arrogance of pride.
Umuntu ozigqajayo loyisiqholo ibizo lakhe ngu “Sideleli,” wenza izinto ngokuziqakisa okukhulu.
25 The desire of the sluggard kills him, for his hands refuse to labor.
Izinkanuko zevila yizo ezililimazayo, ngoba izandla zalo ziyala ukusebenza.
26 There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
Ilanga lonke litshona lifisa okungapheliyo, kodwa abalungileyo bayapha bengagodli.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination— how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!
Umhlatshelo wababi uyisinengiso kambe mubi kangakanani nxa ulethwa ngenhliziyo embi.
28 A false witness will perish. A man who listens speaks to eternity.
Umfakazi wamanga uzabhubha, kuthi lowo omlalelayo uzabhujiswa lanini.
29 A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
Umuntu omubi utshengisa isibindi samanga, kodwa umuntu oqotho uyananzelela izenzo zakhe.
30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.
Akulakuhlakanipha, akulambono, akulacebo okunganqoba uThixo.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but victory is with Yahweh.
Ibhiza liyalungiselelwa usuku lwempi, kodwa ukunqoba kulawulwa nguThixo.
