Proverbs 7
1 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within yourself.
Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
2 Keep my commands and live and keep my instruction as the apple of your eye.
Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
3 Tie them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,
Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
5 in order to keep yourself from the adulterous woman, from the immoral woman with her smooth words.
lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
6 At the window of my house I was looking out through the lattice.
Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
7 I looked at the naive people, and I noticed among the young men a youth who had no sense.
Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
8 That young man passed down the street near her corner, and he went toward her house.
Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
9 It was twilight, in the evening of the day, at the time of night and darkness.
ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
10 There a woman met him, dressed like a prostitute, with a false heart.
Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
11 She was loud and wayward; her feet did not stay at home.
(Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
12 Now in the streets, then in the market place, and at every corner she waited in ambush.
khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
13 So she grabbed him and kissed him, with a strong face she said to him,
Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
14 “I made my peace offering today, I paid my vows,
“Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
15 so came I out to meet you, to eagerly seek your face, and I have found you.
Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
16 I have spread coverings on my bed, colored linens from Egypt.
Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
17 I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
18 Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; let us take great pleasure in acts of love.
Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
19 For my husband is not at his house; he has gone on a long journey.
Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
20 He took a bag of money with him; he will return on the day of the full moon.”
Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
21 With much talk she turned him; with her smooth lips she misled him.
Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
22 He went after her suddenly like an ox going to slaughter, like a deer caught in a trap,
Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
23 until an arrow pierces through its liver. He was like a bird rushing into a snare. He did not know that it would cost his life.
umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
24 Now, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to the words of my mouth.
Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
25 May your heart not turn aside onto her paths; do not be led astray onto her paths.
Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
26 She has caused many people to fall down pierced; her dead victims are very many.
Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
