Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
2 She hath prepared her meat, she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens, she calleth, upon the highest places of the city:
Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
4 'Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:
Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
5 'Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Wozani, lidle okwesinkwa sami, linathe okwewayini engilixubanisileyo.
6 Forsake all thoughtlessness, and live; and walk in the way of understanding.
Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
7 He that correcteth a scorner getteth to himself shame, and he that reproveth a wicked man, it becometh unto him 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 Give to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Nika ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuba lokhu ehlakanipha; fundisa olungileyo, njalo uzakwandisa ukufunda.
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the All-holy is understanding.
Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, lolwazi lwabangcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.'
Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
13 The woman Folly is riotous; she is thoughtless, and knoweth nothing.
Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
14 And she sitteth at the door 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 to them that pass by, who go right on their ways:
ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
16 'Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; and as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:
Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
17 'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.'
Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
