< Izaga 11 >

1 Isikali esikhohlisayo siyisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa ilitshe lokulinganisa elipheleleyo liyintokozo yayo.
A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but accurate weights are his delight.
2 Nxa kufika ukuzigqaja, kufika lehlazo; kodwa kwabathobekileyo kukhona inhlakanipho.
When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.
3 Ubuqotho babaqotho buzabaqondisa, kodwa ukuphambeka kwabaphambekayo kuzababhubhisa.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
4 Inotho kayisizi ngosuku lolaka, kodwa ukulunga kophula ekufeni.
Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5 Ukulunga kwabaqotho kuzaqondisa indlela yakhe, kodwa okhohlakeleyo uzakuwa ngenkohlakalo yakhe.
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 Ukulunga kwabaqotho kuzabophula, kodwa abaphambukayo bazathunjwa zinkanuko zabo.
The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unfaithful will be trapped by evil desires.
7 Nxa umuntu okhohlakeleyo esifa, ithemba lakhe lizabhubha, lethemba lolamandla liyabhubha.
When a wicked man dies, hope perishes, and expectation of power comes to nothing.
8 Olungileyo ukhululwa ekuhluphekeni, kodwa omubi ungena endaweni yakhe.
A righteous person is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked takes his place.
9 Ngomlomo umzenzisi uchitha umakhelwane wakhe, kodwa ngolwazi abalungileyo bayakhululwa.
With his mouth the godless man destroys his neighbor, but the righteous will be delivered through knowledge.
10 Ngempumelelo yabalungileyo umuzi uyathokoza; lekubhubheni kwabakhohlakeleyo kulenjabulo.
When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices. When the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 Ngesibusiso sabaqotho umuzi uyaphakanyiswa, kodwa ngomlomo wabakhohlakeleyo uyachitheka.
By the blessing of the upright, the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 Oswela ingqondo udelela umakhelwane, kodwa umuntu oqedisisayo uyazithulela.
One who despises his neighbor is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding holds his peace.
13 Ohamba enyeya wembula imfihlakalo, kodwa othembekileyo ngomoya ufihla udaba.
One who brings gossip betrays a confidence, but one who is of a trustworthy spirit is one who keeps a secret.
14 Lapho kungekho izeluleko abantu bayawa; kodwa ukukhululwa kusebunengini babeluleki.
Where there is no wise guidance, the nation falls, but in the multitude of counselors there is victory.
15 Oba yisibambiso sowezizwe uzahlupheka ngokubi; kodwa ozonda ukutshaya izandla uvikelekile.
He who is collateral for a stranger will suffer for it, but he who refuses pledges of collateral is secure.
16 Owesifazana olomusa ubamba udumo, labalamandla babamba inotho.
A gracious woman obtains honor, but she who hates virtue makes a throne for dishonor. The slothful become destitute, and ruthless men grab wealth.
17 Umuntu olomusa wenzela umphefumulo wakhe okuhle, kodwa olesihluku ukhathaza inyama yakhe.
The merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18 Okhohlakeleyo wenza umsebenzi wenkohliso, kodwa ohlanyela ukulunga ulomvuzo weqiniso.
Wicked people earn deceitful wages, but one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Njengoba ukulunga kungokwempilo, kunjalo ozingela okubi kungokokufa kwakhe.
He who is truly righteous gets life. He who pursues evil gets death.
20 Abaphambeneyo ngenhliziyo bayisinengiso eNkosini, kodwa abaqotho ngendlela bayintokozo yayo.
Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.
21 Isandla esandleni omubi kayikuyekelwa ukujeziswa, kodwa inzalo yabalungileyo izaphepha.
Most certainly, the evil man will not be unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will be delivered.
22 Ulisongo legolide empumulweni yengulube owesifazana obukekayo ophambuka engqondweni.
Like a gold ring in a pig's snout, is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
23 Isifiso sabalungileyo singokuhle kuphela; ithemba labakhohlakeleyo lulaka.
The desire of the righteous is only good. The expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 Kukhona ohlakazayo, kube kanti okunengi kuyengezwa; logodla okwedlula okufaneleyo, kodwa kungokokuswela.
There is one who scatters, and increases yet more. There is one who withholds more than is appropriate, but gains poverty.
25 Umphefumulo obusisayo uzakhuluphaliswa, lothelelayo uzathelelwa laye.
The liberal soul shall be made fat. He who waters shall be watered also himself.
26 Ogodla amabele, abantu bazamqalekisa; kodwa isibusiso sizakuba phezu kwekhanda lothengisayo.
People curse someone who withholds grain, but blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27 Odingisisa okuhle, udinga umusa; kodwa odinga okubi, kuzakuza kuye.
He who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but he who searches after evil, it shall come to him.
28 Othemba inotho yakhe yena uzakuwa, kodwa abalungileyo bazahluma njengamahlamvu.
He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
29 Oletha inkathazo emzini wakhe uzakudla ilifa lomoya, lesithutha sizakuba yinceku yohlakaniphileyo ngenhliziyo.
He who troubles his own house shall inherit the wind. The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 Isithelo solungileyo siyisihlahla sempilo, lozuza imiphefumulo uhlakaniphile.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he who plucks that life is wise.
31 Khangela, olungileyo uzavuzwa emhlabeni; kakhulu kangakanani omubi lesoni!
If the righteous is delivered with difficulty, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?

< Izaga 11 >