Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars — seven.
Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
2 She hath slaughtered her slaughter, She hath mingled her wine, Yea, she hath arranged her table.
Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
3 She hath sent forth her damsels, She crieth on the tops of the high places of the city:
Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
4 'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' Whoso lacketh heart: she hath said to him,
Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
5 'Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
Wozani, lidle okwesinkwa sami, linathe okwewayini engilixubanisileyo.
6 Forsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding.
Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
7 The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it — shame, And a reprover of the wicked — his blemish.
Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth thee.
Ungasoli isiklolodi, hlezi sikuzonde; sola ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuthanda.
9 Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increaseth learning.
Nika ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuba lokhu ehlakanipha; fundisa olungileyo, njalo uzakwandisa ukufunda.
10 The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, lolwazi lwabangcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.
Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
12 If thou hast been wise, thou hast been wise for thyself, And thou hast scorned — thyself bearest [it].
Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
13 A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and hath not known what.
Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
14 And she hath sat at the opening of her house, On a throne — the high places of the city,
Ngoba uhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni, endaweni eziphakemeyo zomuzi,
15 To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
16 'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart — she said to him,
Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
17 'Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.'
Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
