Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars:
Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table.
Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
3 She has sent forth her maidens: she cries on the highest places of the city,
Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
4 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: as for him that wants understanding, she says 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 the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
7 He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.
Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Ungasoli isiklolodi, hlezi sikuzonde; sola ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuthanda.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just 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 holy is understanding.
Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, lolwazi lwabangcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.
Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
12 If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself: but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.
Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.
Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
14 For she sits 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 passengers who go right on their ways:
ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
16 Whoever is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him that wants understanding, she says 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.
