Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table:
Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city:
Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
“Akuthi bonke abayizithutha beze lapha!” Esitsho kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.
5 Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.
“Wozani lidle ukudla kwami linathe iwayini esengililungisile.
6 Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.
Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
7 He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man [getteth] himself a blot.
Lowo oweluleka oklolodayo ubiza inhlamba; okhuza umuntu oxhwalileyo ucina ethethiswa.
8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
Ungakhuzi isiqholo ngoba sizakuzonda; khuza ohlakaniphileyo uzakuthanda.
9 Give [instruction] to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Yeluleka umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzakwandisa ukuhlakanipha kwakhe; fundisa umuntu olungileyo, uzakwengeza ulwazi lwakhe.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Ukumesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, njalo ulwazi ngaLowo oNgcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
13 The foolish woman is clamorous; [She is] simple, and knoweth nothing.
Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
14 And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,
Uthanda ukuhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni endaweni esesiqongweni sedolobho,
15 To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways:
abe ehuga labo abedlulayo, abahamba beqonde lapho abaya khona.
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
“Abeze lapha bonke abayizithutha!” Esitsho kulabo abangacabangiyo.
17 Stolen waters are sweet, And bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.
“Ulutho lokuntshontshwa lumnandi; ukudla okudlelwa ensitha kuyahlabusa!”
