< Proverbs 5 >

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:
Ndodana yami, nanzelela ukuhlakanipha kwami, ulalele kuhle amazwi ami alombono,
2 that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.
ukuze uhlale ukwazi ukukhetha okuqondileyo lokuze izindebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
Phela izindebe zesifebekazi zithonta uluju, lenkulumo yaso iyatshelela kulamafutha;
4 But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
kodwa ekucineni iyababa ingathi yinyongo, ibukhali njengenkemba esika nxa zombili.
5 Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
Inyawo zaso zehlela ekufeni; izinyathelo zaso ziqonda nta elibeni. (Sheol h7585)
6 She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.
Kasikhathali ukuthi kuphilwa njani; izindlela zaso ziyazombeleza, kodwa kasikuboni lokho.
7 Now therefore, son, listen to me. Do not depart from the words of my mouth.
Ngalokho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; lingaphambuki kulokho engikukhulumayo.
8 Remove your way far from her. Do not come near the door of her house,
Hambani ngendlela ekhatshana kwaso, lingasondeli emnyango wendlu yaso,
9 lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the merciless;
funa unikele kwabanye amandla akho wonke lobudala bakho kulowo olesihluku,
10 lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man's house.
funa abemzini bazitike ngenotho yakho lokusebenza kwakho kunothise umuzi wenye indoda.
11 You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
Ekupheleni kokuphila kwakho uzabubula, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekugugile.
12 and say, "How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
Uzakuthi, “Uthi ngangikuzonda yini ukulaywa! Inhliziyo yami yayikuzonda njani ukuqondiswa!
13 neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me.
Ngangingafuni ukulalela abafundisi bami kumbe ukulalela abeluleki bami.
14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin, in the midst of the gathered assembly."
Ngacina sengisenkingeni enkulu ngiphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.”
15 Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.
Natha amanzi kowakho umgqomo, amanzi agelezayo kowakho umthombo.
16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?
Kambe imifudlana yakho ingayekelwa igelezela emigwaqweni, lezifula zakho zamanzi zigelezele ezinkundleni zabantu na?
17 Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.
Kazibe ngezakho wena wedwa, ungazabelani labafokazana nje.
18 Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
Sengathi ungabusiswa umthombo wakho njalo sengathi ungathokoza ngomfazi wobutsha bakho.
19 A loving doe and a graceful deer—let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
Oyimpalakazi ethandekayo, imbabala ebutshelezi amabele akhe sengathi angakusuthisa lanini, nini lanini ukhangwe luthando lwakhe.
20 For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?
Kungani ndodana yami, uthunjwa yisifebekazi? Kungani ugona iqolo lomfazi wenye indoda?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of YHWH. He examines all his paths.
Phela izindlela zomuntu zisobala kuThixo, uyazihlola zonke izindlela zakhe.
22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
Izenzo ezimbi zomuntu omubi ziyamthiya; izibopho zesono sakhe zimuthe nko.
23 He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
Uzabhubha ngoba engalayeki, elahlekiswa yibuphukuphuku bakhe.

< Proverbs 5 >