Proverbs 5
1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, incline thine ear to my understanding;
Ndodana yami, lalela inhlakanipho yami, beka indlebe yakho ekuqedisiseni kwami,
2 that thou mayest keep reflection, and that thy lips may preserve knowledge.
ukuze uqaphele ingqondo, lendebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
3 For the lips of the strange woman drop honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil;
Ngoba indebe zowesifazana wemzini zithonta uluju, lomlomo wakhe ubutshelezi kulamafutha.
4 but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
Kodwa ukucina kwakhe kuyababa njengomhlonyane, kubukhali njengenkemba esika nhlangothi mbili.
Inyawo zakhe zehlela ekufeni; izinyathelo zakhe zibambelela esihogweni. (Sheol h7585)
6 Lest she should ponder the path of life, her ways wander, she knoweth not [whither].
Hlezi ulinganise indlela yempilo, imikhondo yakhe iyazulazula, kananzeleli.
7 And now, children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
Ngakho-ke, bantwana, ngilalelani, lingaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
Dedisela indlela yakho khatshana laye, ungasondeli emnyango wendlu yakhe;
9 lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel;
hlezi unikele udumo lwakho kwabanye, leminyaka yakho kolesihluku;
10 lest strangers be filled with thy wealth, and the fruits of thy toil [come] into the house of a stranger;
hlezi abezizwe bazisuthise ngamandla akho, lemitshikatshika yakho ibe sendlini yowezizweni;
11 and thou mourn in thine end, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed;
njalo ububule ekupheleni kwakho, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekudliwe;
12 and thou say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof!
njalo uthi: Ngikuzonde njani ukulaywa, lenhliziyo yami yadelela ukukhuzwa!
13 and I have not hearkened unto the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to those that instructed me;
Kangizwanga-ke ilizwi labafundisi bami; kangibekanga indlebe zami kwabangifundisayo!
14 I was well nigh in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
Ngaphosa ngaba ebubini bonke phakathi kwebandla lenhlangano.
15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
Natha amanzi emgodini wakho, lemifula ephuma phakathi komthombo wakho.
16 Thy fountains shall be poured forth, as water-brooks in the broadways.
Imithombo yakho ichitheke phandle, izifula zamanzi emidangeni.
17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
Kakube ngokwakho wedwa, kungabi ngokwabezizweni kanye lawe.
18 Let thy fountain be blessed; and have joy of the wife of thy youth.
Umthombo wakho kawubusiswe; uthokoze ngomfazi wobutsha bakho;
19 As a lovely hind and a graceful roe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times: be thou ravished continually with her love.
impala ethandekayo kakhulu, legogo elibukekayo; amabele akhe kawakusuthise sonke isikhathi, uzule othandweni lwakhe kokuphela.
20 And why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
Kungani-ke, ndodana yami, uzule kowesifazana wemzini, ugone isifuba sowemzini?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah, and he pondereth all his paths.
Ngoba indlela zomuntu ziphambi kwamehlo eNkosi; njalo iyalinganisa yonke imikhondo yakhe.
22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
Ezakhe iziphambeko zizabamba omubi, abanjwe zintambo zesono sakhe.
23 He shall die for want of discipline; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
Yena uzakufa ngokungalaywa, lebukhulwini bobuthutha bakhe uzaduha.
