Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
4 Whoever [is] simple, let him turn in hither: [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
“Akuthi bonke abayizithutha beze lapha!” Esitsho kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine [which] I have mingled.
“Wozani lidle ukudla kwami linathe iwayini esengililungisile.
6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
7 He that reproveth a scorner, getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] himself a blot.
Lowo oweluleka oklolodayo ubiza inhlamba; okhuza umuntu oxhwalileyo ucina ethethiswa.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he shall hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Ungakhuzi isiqholo ngoba sizakuzonda; khuza ohlakaniphileyo uzakuthanda.
9 Give [instruction] to a wise [man], and he will be yet wiser: teach a just [man], and he will increase in learning.
Yeluleka umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzakwandisa ukuhlakanipha kwakhe; fundisa umuntu olungileyo, uzakwengeza ulwazi lwakhe.
10 The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.
Ukumesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, njalo ulwazi ngaLowo oNgcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
12 If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].
Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
13 A foolish woman [is] clamorous: [she is] simple, and knoweth nothing.
Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
Uthanda ukuhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni endaweni esesiqongweni sedolobho,
15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
abe ehuga labo abedlulayo, abahamba beqonde lapho abaya khona.
16 Whoever [is] simple, let him turn in hither: and [as for] him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
“Abeze lapha bonke abayizithutha!” Esitsho kulabo abangacabangiyo.
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread [eaten] in secret is pleasant.
“Ulutho lokuntshontshwa lumnandi; ukudla okudlelwa ensitha kuyahlabusa!”
