Proverbs 7
1 My son, heed my advice, and guard my instructions [as you would] [MET] [guard] a treasure.
Ndodana yami, gcina amazwi ami, uzibekele imilayo yami.
2 Obey my commands, and [as a result you will] live [a good life]. Consider the things that I teach you [to be very precious]; guard them, [just] like you protect your eyes.
Gcina imilayo yami, uphile, lomthetho wami njengenhlamvu yamehlo akho.
3 Tie my commands around your fingers [in order that they will remind you to obey them]. Always keep them in mind [MET].
Ukubophele eminweni yakho, kubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
4 [Love] wisdom [like you love] your sister. Understand what is wise, [and let that be as dear to you as] members of your family.
Uthi kunhlakanipho: Ungudadewethu; ubize ukuqedisisa ngokuthi yisihlobo sakho;
5 If you are wise and if you understand what is wise [PRS], you will not [sleep with] an immoral woman; you will not listen to a woman who tries to entice you [to sleep with her] by what she says.
ukuze kukugcine kumfazi wemzini, kowesifazana wemzini oyengayo ngamazwi akhe.
6 One day, I was standing at the window inside my house, and I looked outside.
Ngoba ewindini lendlu yami, ngeminxibo yewindi ngalunguza phandle,
7 I saw some young men who did not have good sense. Among them was a man who was very foolish.
ngasengibona phakathi kwabangelalwazi, ngananzelela phakathi kwabatsha ijaha eliswele ingqondo,
8 He crossed the street near [the house of] an immoral woman. He was walking along the path toward her house
lisedlula esitaladeni eceleni kwengonsi yakhe, linyathela endleleni yendlu yakhe,
9 at twilight, when it was getting dark [DOU].
kusihlwa, ngentambama yosuku, ebusuku obumnyama, lomnyama.
10 Suddenly the woman came out to see/meet him. She was dressed (seductively/like a prostitute), wanting to persuade him to sleep with her.
Khangela-ke, owesifazana walihlangabeza, lesembatho sewule, elobuqili ngenhliziyo.
11 She was a loud talker, one who was rebellious; she [SYN] never stayed at home.
Lo wayelomsindo, eyisiqholo; inyawo zakhe kazihlali endlini yakhe.
12 She often went into the city streets and plazas/markets, waiting to trap some man.
Khathesi uphandle, abesesiba ezitaladeni, ecathama kuyo yonke ingonsi.
13 [When she saw that young man], she put her arms around him and kissed him. Then without being a bit ashamed, she said,
Ngokunjalo walibamba, walanga, waqinisa ubuso bakhe, wathi kulo:
14 “I have [some meat that is left over from] a sacrifice that I made today [to maintain fellowship with Yahweh]; I have fulfilled/done what I promised him that I would do.
Imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula ikimi; lamuhla sengibhadele izifungo zami.
15 And now I have come out to meet/see you. I was searching for you, and [now] I have found you!
Ngakho-ke ngiphumile ukukuhlangabeza, ngidingisise ubuso bakho; ngikutholile.
16 I have put on my bed sheets/bedspreads that were made from [very fine] linen [that were imported] {[people brought]} from Egypt.
Ngendlele umbheda wami ngezendlalo, ngamalembu acolekileyo kakhulu alemibalabala avela eGibhithe.
17 I have sprinkled [sweet-smelling] perfumes on my bed— myrrh and aloes and cinnamon.
Ngifafazile umbheda wami ngemure, izinhlaba, lekinamoni.
18 Come [with me]; let us enjoy having sex until [tomorrow] morning. Let’s enjoy making love.
Woza, sizidakise ngothando kuze kuse, sizithokozise ngothando olukhulu.
19 My husband is not at home; he has gone away on a long journey.
Ngoba indoda kayikho endlini yayo, ihambile uhambo khatshana.
20 He is carrying a wallet filled with money, and he will not return until the middle of this month.”
Ithethe isaka lemali esandleni sayo; ngosuku lwenyanga egcweleyo izakuza endlini yayo.
21 [So] she persuaded him by [her] enticing/tempting words. She allured him by her smooth/sweet talk.
Walihuga ngobunengi bemfundiso yakhe, walivumisa ngenkulumo zakhe ezincengayo.
22 [And] he went with her immediately, like an ox that was going to where it would be slaughtered, or like a deer (OR, a fool) that is stepping into a noose/trap,
Lahle lamlandela njengenkabi isiya ekuhlatshweni, lanjengesiphukuphuku sisiya ekujezisweni esongweni lenqagala;
23 where it will remain/stay until someone shoots an arrow into its liver [and kills it]. [He was] like a bird that flew into a trap. He did not know that (it would cost him his life/he would die as a result).
uze umtshoko uhlabe isibindi salo, njengenyoni iphangisela esifwini, ingazi ukuthi simelene lempilo yayo.
24 My son, listen to what I say; pay [careful] attention to my words.
Khathesi-ke, bantwana, ngizweni, lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
25 Do not allow anything to arouse/persuade you to go with an immoral woman like that. Do not go where she goes.
Inhliziyo yakho kayingaphambukeli endleleni zakhe; ungaduhi emikhondweni yakhe.
26 She has caused many men to be ruined; truly, no one can count the men she has killed.
Ngoba ubawisele phansi abanengi abalimeleyo, labo bonke ababuleweyo bakhe banengi.
