Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
3 She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
4 Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
“Akuthi bonke abayizithutha beze lapha!” Esitsho kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
“Wozani lidle ukudla kwami linathe iwayini esengililungisile.
6 Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
7 He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonor to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
Lowo oweluleka oklolodayo ubiza inhlamba; okhuza umuntu oxhwalileyo ucina ethethiswa.
8 Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.
Ungakhuzi isiqholo ngoba sizakuzonda; khuza ohlakaniphileyo uzakuthanda.
9 Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
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 counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
Ukumesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, njalo ulwazi ngaLowo oNgcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
12 Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbors; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
13 A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
14 She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
Uthanda ukuhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni endaweni esesiqongweni sedolobho,
15 calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
abe ehuga labo abedlulayo, abahamba beqonde lapho abaya khona.
16 [saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
“Abeze lapha bonke abayizithutha!” Esitsho kulabo abangacabangiyo.
17 Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
“Ulutho lokuntshontshwa lumnandi; ukudla okudlelwa ensitha kuyahlabusa!”
