Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
2 She hath prepared her meat, she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens, she calleth, upon the highest places of the city:
Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
4 'Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:
“Akuthi bonke abayizithutha beze lapha!” Esitsho kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.
5 'Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
“Wozani lidle ukudla kwami linathe iwayini esengililungisile.
6 Forsake all thoughtlessness, and live; and walk in the way of understanding.
Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
7 He that correcteth a scorner getteth to himself shame, and he that reproveth a wicked man, it becometh unto him 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 Give to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Yeluleka umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzakwandisa ukuhlakanipha kwakhe; fundisa umuntu olungileyo, uzakwengeza ulwazi lwakhe.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the All-holy is understanding.
Ukumesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, njalo ulwazi ngaLowo oNgcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.'
Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
13 The woman Folly is riotous; she is thoughtless, and knoweth nothing.
Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
14 And she sitteth at the door 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 to them that pass by, who go right on their ways:
abe ehuga labo abedlulayo, abahamba beqonde lapho abaya khona.
16 'Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; and as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:
“Abeze lapha bonke abayizithutha!” Esitsho kulabo abangacabangiyo.
17 'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.'
“Ulutho lokuntshontshwa lumnandi; ukudla okudlelwa ensitha kuyahlabusa!”
