Proverbs 7
1 My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.
Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
2 Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
3 Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
4 Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative,
Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
5 that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.
lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
6 For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.
Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
7 I saw 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, he went the way to her house,
Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
9 in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness.
ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
10 Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.
Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
11 She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house.
(Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
12 Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.
khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:
Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
14 “Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.
“Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
15 Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.
Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
16 I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn 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’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving.
Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
19 For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey.
Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
20 He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.”
Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
21 With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
22 He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.
Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
23 Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.
umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
24 Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
25 Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,
Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
26 for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.
Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
