Proverbs 7
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thy eye.
Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart.
Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
4 Say to wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
5 That they may keep thee from the adulteress, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
(Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
12 Now is she outside, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,
Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows.
“Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
15 Therefore I came forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
19 For my husband is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she seduced him.
Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
22 He goeth after her quickly, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
23 Till an arrow striketh through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
24 Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
