Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her pillars—seven.
Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
2 She has slaughtered her slaughter, She has mingled her wine, Indeed, she has arranged her table.
Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
3 She has sent forth her girls, She cries on the tops of the high places of the city:
Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
4 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” Whoever lacks heart: she has said to him,
Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
5 “Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
Wozani, lidle okwesinkwa sami, linathe okwewayini engilixubanisileyo.
6 Forsake the simple and live, And be blessed in the way of understanding.”
Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
7 The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it—shame, And a reprover of the wicked—his blemish.
Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
8 Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you, Give reproof to the wise, and he loves you.
Ungasoli isiklolodi, hlezi sikuzonde; sola ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuthanda.
9 Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increases learning.
Nika ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuba lokhu ehlakanipha; fundisa olungileyo, njalo uzakwandisa ukufunda.
10 The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of YHWH, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, lolwazi lwabangcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For by me your days multiply, And years of life are added to you.
Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
12 If you have been wise, you have been wise for yourself, And you have scorned—you bear [it] alone.
Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and has not known what.
Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
14 And she has sat at the opening of her house, On a throne—the high places of the city,
Ngoba uhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni, endaweni eziphakemeyo zomuzi,
15 To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
16 “Who [is] simple? Let him turn aside here.” And whoever lacks heart—she said to him,
Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
17 “Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.”
Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
