Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
2 she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;
Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
3 she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,
Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,
Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
5 Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled.
Wozani, lidle okwesinkwa sami, linathe okwewayini engilixubanisileyo.
6 Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.
Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
7 He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.
Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise [man], and he will love thee.
Ungasoli isiklolodi, hlezi sikuzonde; sola ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuthanda.
9 Impart to a wise [man], and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous [man], and he will increase learning.
Nika ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuba lokhu ehlakanipha; fundisa olungileyo, njalo uzakwandisa ukufunda.
10 The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence.
Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, lolwazi lwabangcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
12 If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
13 The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.
Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
14 And she sitteth at the entry of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
Ngoba uhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni, endaweni eziphakemeyo zomuzi,
15 to call passers-by who go right on their ways:
ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.
Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
