Proverbs 5
1 [My] son, attend to my wisdom, and apply your ear to my words;
Ndodana yami, nanzelela ukuhlakanipha kwami, ulalele kuhle amazwi ami alombono,
2 that you may keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives you a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;
ukuze uhlale ukwazi ukukhetha okuqondileyo lokuze izindebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
3 for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases your palate:
Phela izindebe zesifebekazi zithonta uluju, lenkulumo yaso iyatshelela kulamafutha;
4 but afterwards you will find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.
kodwa ekucineni iyababa ingathi yinyongo, ibukhali njengenkemba esika nxa zombili.
5 For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established. (Sheol h7585)
Inyawo zaso zehlela ekufeni; izinyathelo zaso ziqonda nta elibeni. (Sheol h7585)
6 For she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.
Kasikhathali ukuthi kuphilwa njani; izindlela zaso ziyazombeleza, kodwa kasikuboni lokho.
7 Now then, [my] son, hear me, and make not my words of none effect.
Ngalokho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; lingaphambuki kulokho engikukhulumayo.
8 Remove your way far from her; draw not near to the doors of her house:
Hambani ngendlela ekhatshana kwaso, lingasondeli emnyango wendlu yaso,
9 lest you give away your life to others, and your substance to the merciless:
funa unikele kwabanye amandla akho wonke lobudala bakho kulowo olesihluku,
10 lest strangers be filled with your strength, and your labors come into the houses of strangers;
funa abemzini bazitike ngenotho yakho lokusebenza kwakho kunothise umuzi wenye indoda.
11 And you repent at last, when the flesh of your body is consumed,
Ekupheleni kokuphila kwakho uzabubula, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekugugile.
12 and you shall say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart avoided reproofs!
Uzakuthi, “Uthi ngangikuzonda yini ukulaywa! Inhliziyo yami yayikuzonda njani ukuqondiswa!
13 I heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, neither did I apply mine ear.
Ngangingafuni ukulalela abafundisi bami kumbe ukulalela abeluleki bami.
14 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
Ngacina sengisenkingeni enkulu ngiphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.”
15 Drink waters out of your own vessels, and out of your own springing wells.
Natha amanzi kowakho umgqomo, amanzi agelezayo kowakho umthombo.
16 Let not waters out of your fountain be spilt by you, but let your waters go into your streets.
Kambe imifudlana yakho ingayekelwa igelezela emigwaqweni, lezifula zakho zamanzi zigelezele ezinkundleni zabantu na?
17 Let them be only your own, and let no stranger partake with you.
Kazibe ngezakho wena wedwa, ungazabelani labafokazana nje.
18 Let your fountain of water be [truly] your own; and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
Sengathi ungabusiswa umthombo wakho njalo sengathi ungathokoza ngomfazi wobutsha bakho.
19 Let [your] loving hart and your graceful colt company with you, and let her be considered your own, and be with you at all times; for ravished with her love you shall be greatly increased.
Oyimpalakazi ethandekayo, imbabala ebutshelezi amabele akhe sengathi angakusuthisa lanini, nini lanini ukhangwe luthando lwakhe.
20 Be not intimate with a strange woman, neither fold yourself in the arms of a woman not your own.
Kungani ndodana yami, uthunjwa yisifebekazi? Kungani ugona iqolo lomfazi wenye indoda?
21 For the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, and he looks on all his paths.
Phela izindlela zomuntu zisobala kuThixo, uyazihlola zonke izindlela zakhe.
22 Iniquities ensnare a man, and every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.
Izenzo ezimbi zomuntu omubi ziyamthiya; izibopho zesono sakhe zimuthe nko.
23 Such a man dies with the uninstructed; and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.
Uzabhubha ngoba engalayeki, elahlekiswa yibuphukuphuku bakhe.
