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 preserve discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
ukuze uqaphele ingqondo, lendebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
3 For the lips of a 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 walk the even path of life, her ways wander, but she knoweth it not.
Hlezi ulinganise indlela yempilo, imikhondo yakhe iyazulazula, kananzeleli.
7 Now therefore, O ye 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 thy vigour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel;
hlezi unikele udumo lwakho kwabanye, leminyaka yakho kolesihluku;
10 Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in the house of an alien;
hlezi abezizwe bazisuthise ngamandla akho, lemitshikatshika yakho ibe sendlini yowezizweni;
11 And thou moan, when thine end cometh, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
njalo ububule ekupheleni kwakho, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekudliwe;
12 And say: 'How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
njalo uthi: Ngikuzonde njani ukulaywa, lenhliziyo yami yadelela ukukhuzwa!
13 Neither have I hearkened to the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them 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 Let thy springs be dispersed abroad, and courses of water in the streets.
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 A lovely hind and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; with her love be thou ravished always.
impala ethandekayo kakhulu, legogo elibukekayo; amabele akhe kawakusuthise sonke isikhathi, uzule othandweni lwakhe kokuphela.
20 Why then wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of an alien?
Kungani-ke, ndodana yami, uzule kowesifazana wemzini, ugone isifuba sowemzini?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He maketh even all his paths.
Ngoba indlela zomuntu ziphambi kwamehlo eNkosi; njalo iyalinganisa yonke imikhondo yakhe.
22 His own iniquities shall ensnare 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 lack of instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall reel.
Yena uzakufa ngokungalaywa, lebukhulwini bobuthutha bakhe uzaduha.
