Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has prepared its seven pillars.
Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
2 She has slaughtered her animals for meat; she has mixed her wine; and she has set her table.
Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
3 She has sent out her servant girls with invitations. She calls out from the highest places of the town,
Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
4 “Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
“Akuthi bonke abayizithutha beze lapha!” Esitsho kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.
5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.
“Wozani lidle ukudla kwami linathe iwayini esengililungisile.
6 Leave your foolish ways and you will live; follow the path that makes sense.”
Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
7 If you correct a mocker all you get are insults; if you argue with the wicked all you get is abuse.
Lowo oweluleka oklolodayo ubiza inhlamba; okhuza umuntu oxhwalileyo ucina ethethiswa.
8 So don't argue with mockers or they'll only hate you; argue with the wise and they'll love you.
Ungakhuzi isiqholo ngoba sizakuzonda; khuza ohlakaniphileyo uzakuthanda.
9 Educate the wise and they'll become even wiser; teach those who live right and they will increase their learning.
Yeluleka umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzakwandisa ukuhlakanipha kwakhe; fundisa umuntu olungileyo, uzakwengeza ulwazi lwakhe.
10 Honoring the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; knowledge of the Holy One brings insight.
Ukumesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, njalo ulwazi ngaLowo oNgcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 Through wisdom you'll have many more days, increasing the years of your life.
Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
12 If you are wise, you are the one to profit from it; if you scoff, you alone will have to suffer the consequences.
Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
13 Stupidity is like a loud, ignorant woman who doesn't know anything.
Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the town,
Uthanda ukuhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni endaweni esesiqongweni sedolobho,
15 calling out to those passing by, going about their business,
abe ehuga labo abedlulayo, abahamba beqonde lapho abaya khona.
16 “Everybody who needs to learn, come and see me!” To people who don't have any sense she says,
“Abeze lapha bonke abayizithutha!” Esitsho kulabo abangacabangiyo.
17 “Stolen water is sweet, and food eaten in secret tastes good!”
“Ulutho lokuntshontshwa lumnandi; ukudla okudlelwa ensitha kuyahlabusa!”
