Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
2 she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;
Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
3 she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,
Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,
“Akuthi bonke abayizithutha beze lapha!” Esitsho kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.
5 Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled.
“Wozani lidle ukudla kwami linathe iwayini esengililungisile.
6 Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.
Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
7 He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.
Lowo oweluleka oklolodayo ubiza inhlamba; okhuza umuntu oxhwalileyo ucina ethethiswa.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise [man], and he will love thee.
Ungakhuzi isiqholo ngoba sizakuzonda; khuza ohlakaniphileyo uzakuthanda.
9 Impart to a wise [man], and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous [man], and he will increase 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 is intelligence.
Ukumesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, njalo ulwazi ngaLowo oNgcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
12 If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
13 The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.
Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
14 And she sitteth at the entry 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 passers-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 to him that is void of understanding she saith,
“Abeze lapha bonke abayizithutha!” Esitsho kulabo abangacabangiyo.
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.
“Ulutho lokuntshontshwa lumnandi; ukudla okudlelwa ensitha kuyahlabusa!”
