Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars:
Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table.
Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
3 She has sent forth her maidens: she cries on the highest places of the city,
Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for him that wants understanding, she says 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 the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
7 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.
Lowo oweluleka oklolodayo ubiza inhlamba; okhuza umuntu oxhwalileyo ucina ethethiswa.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Ungakhuzi isiqholo ngoba sizakuzonda; khuza ohlakaniphileyo uzakuthanda.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just 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 holy is understanding.
Ukumesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, njalo ulwazi ngaLowo oNgcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.
Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
12 If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself: but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.
Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.
Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
14 For she sits 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 passengers who go right on their ways:
abe ehuga labo abedlulayo, abahamba beqonde lapho abaya khona.
16 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him that wants understanding, she says 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!”
