Proverbs 5
1 My son, to my wisdom, attend, and, to mine understanding, incline thou thine ear:
Ndodana yami, nanzelela ukuhlakanipha kwami, ulalele kuhle amazwi ami alombono,
2 That thou mayest preserve discretion, —and, as for knowledge, that thy lips may guard it.
ukuze uhlale ukwazi ukukhetha okuqondileyo lokuze izindebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
3 For, with sweet droppings, drip the lips of her that is a stranger, and, smoother than oil, is her mouth;
Phela izindebe zesifebekazi zithonta uluju, lenkulumo yaso iyatshelela kulamafutha;
4 But, the latter end of her, is bitter as wormwood, sharp, as a two-edged sword!
kodwa ekucineni iyababa ingathi yinyongo, ibukhali njengenkemba esika nxa zombili.
Inyawo zaso zehlela ekufeni; izinyathelo zaso ziqonda nta elibeni. (Sheol h7585)
6 Lest, the path of life, she should ponder, her tracks have wandered she knoweth not [whither].
Kasikhathali ukuthi kuphilwa njani; izindlela zaso ziyazombeleza, kodwa kasikuboni lokho.
7 Now, therefore, ye sons, hearken unto me, and do not turn away from the sayings of my mouth.
Ngalokho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; lingaphambuki kulokho engikukhulumayo.
8 Keep far from her thy way, and do not go near the opening of her house:
Hambani ngendlela ekhatshana kwaso, lingasondeli emnyango wendlu yaso,
9 Lest thou give, to other men, thy vigour, and thy years, to him that is cruel:
funa unikele kwabanye amandla akho wonke lobudala bakho kulowo olesihluku,
10 Lest strange men, be well fed, by thy strength, and, thy toils, be in the house of the alien.
funa abemzini bazitike ngenotho yakho lokusebenza kwakho kunothise umuzi wenye indoda.
11 So shalt thou grieve in thy latter end, in the failing of thy flesh and of thy healthy condition;
Ekupheleni kokuphila kwakho uzabubula, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekugugile.
12 And thou shalt say—How I hated correction! and, reproof, my heart disdained;
Uzakuthi, “Uthi ngangikuzonda yini ukulaywa! Inhliziyo yami yayikuzonda njani ukuqondiswa!
13 Neither hearkened I to the voice of my teachers, nor, to my instructors, inclined I mine ear:
Ngangingafuni ukulalela abafundisi bami kumbe ukulalela abeluleki bami.
14 Soon was I in all evil, in the midst of convocation and assembly.
Ngacina sengisenkingeni enkulu ngiphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.”
15 Drink thou water out of thine own cistern, and flowing streams out of the midst of thine own well.
Natha amanzi kowakho umgqomo, amanzi agelezayo kowakho umthombo.
16 Let not thy fountains, flow over, abroad, in the streets, dividings of waters:
Kambe imifudlana yakho ingayekelwa igelezela emigwaqweni, lezifula zakho zamanzi zigelezele ezinkundleni zabantu na?
17 Let them be for thyself, alone, and not for strangers with thee.
Kazibe ngezakho wena wedwa, ungazabelani labafokazana nje.
18 Let thy well-spring be blessed, —and get thy joy from the wife of thy youth: —
Sengathi ungabusiswa umthombo wakho njalo sengathi ungathokoza ngomfazi wobutsha bakho.
19 A loving hind! a graceful doe! let, her bosom, content thee at all times, and, in her love, mayst thou stray evermore.
Oyimpalakazi ethandekayo, imbabala ebutshelezi amabele akhe sengathi angakusuthisa lanini, nini lanini ukhangwe luthando lwakhe.
20 Wherefore, then, shouldst thou stray, my son, with a strange woman? or embrace the bosom of a woman unknown?
Kungani ndodana yami, uthunjwa yisifebekazi? Kungani ugona iqolo lomfazi wenye indoda?
21 For, before the eyes of Yahweh, are the ways of a man, —and, all his tracks, doth he consider:
Phela izindlela zomuntu zisobala kuThixo, uyazihlola zonke izindlela zakhe.
22 His own iniquities, shall entrap him with the lawless, and, by the cords of his own sin, shall he be seized.
Izenzo ezimbi zomuntu omubi ziyamthiya; izibopho zesono sakhe zimuthe nko.
23 He, shall die, for lack of discipline, and, by the abounding of his perversity, shall he be lost.
Uzabhubha ngoba engalayeki, elahlekiswa yibuphukuphuku bakhe.
