Proverbs 7
1 [My] son, keep my words, and hide with you my commandments. [My] son, honor the Lord, and you shall be strong; and fear none but him:
Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
2 keep my commandments, and you shall live; and [keep] my words as the pupils of [your] eyes.
Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
3 And bind them on your fingers, and write [them] on the table of your heart.
Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
4 Say that wisdom is your sister, and gain prudence as an acquaintance for yourself;
Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
5 that she may keep you from the strange and wicked woman, if she should assail you with flattering words.
lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
6 For she looks from a window out of her house into the streets, at one whom she may see of the senseless ones, a young man void of understanding,
Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
7 passing by the corner in the passages near her house,
Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
8 and speaking, in the dark of the evening,
Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
9 when there happens [to be] the stillness of night and of darkness:
ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
10 and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter.
Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
11 And she is fickle, and debauched, and her feet abide not at home.
(Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
12 For at one time she wanders without, and at [another] time she lies in wait in the streets, at every corner.
khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
13 Then she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,
Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
14 I have a peace-offering; today I pay my vows:
“Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
15 therefore I came forth to meet you, desiring your face; [and] I have found you.
Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
16 I have spread my bed with sheets, and I have covered it with double tapestry from Egypt.
Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
17 I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon.
Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
18 Come, and let us enjoy love until the morning; come, and let us embrace in love.
Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
19 For my husband is not at home, but is gone on a long journey,
Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
20 having taken in his hand a bundle of money: after many days he will return to his house.
Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
21 So with much converse she prevailed on him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from [the right path].
Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
22 And he followed her, being gently led on, and [that] as an ox is led to the slaughter, and as a dog to bonds, or as a hart shot in the liver with an arrow:
Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
23 and he hastens as a bird into a snare, not knowing that he is running for [his] life.
umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
24 Now then, [my] son, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
25 Let not your heart turn aside to her ways:
Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
26 for she has wounded and cast down many, and those whom she has slain are innumerable.
Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
