Proverbs 7
1 My son, observe my sayings, and my commandments must thou treasure up with thee.
Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
2 Observe my commandments, and live: and my teaching as the apple of thy eyes.
Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
3 Bind them around thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart.
Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
5 That they may keep thee from an adulterous woman, from an alien that useth flattering speeches.
lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
6 For through the window of my house, through my lattice did I [once] look out,
Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
7 And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a lad void of sense;
Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
8 He was passing through the market-place near her corner; and he stepped along on the way to her house,
Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the depth of the night and when it was dark:
ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
10 And, behold, a woman came to meet him with the attire of a harlot, and obdurate of heart.
Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
11 (She is noisy and ungovernable; in her house her feet never rest;
(Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
12 At one time she is in the street, at another in the open places, and near every corner doth she lurk, )
khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
13 And she caught hold of him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face she said to him,
Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
14 “I had bound myself to bring peace-offerings; this day have I paid my vows:
“Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
15 Therefore am I come forth to meet thee, to seek thy presence diligently, and I have found thee.
Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
16 With tapestry coverings have I decked my bed, with embroidered coverlids of the fine linen of Egypt.
Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
17 I have sprinkled my couch with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
18 Come, let us indulge in love until the morning: let us delight ourselves with dalliances.
Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
19 For the man is not in his house, he is gone on a journey a great way off:
Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
20 The bag of money hath he taken with him, by the day of the new-moon festival only will he come home.”
Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
21 She seduced him by the abundance of her reasoning: by the flattery of her lips she misguided him.
Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
22 He followed after her suddenly, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, and as in fetters to his correction, the fool:
Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
23 Till an arrow cleaveth through his liver; as a bird hasteneth into the snare, and knoweth not that it is done to take his life.
umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
24 And now, O children, hearken unto me, and listen to the sayings of my mouth.
Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
25 Let not thy heart turn aside to her ways, do not go astray on her paths.
Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
26 For many deadly wounded hath she caused to fall: yea, very numerous are all those slain by her.
Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
