Izaga 5
1 Ndodana yami, nanzelela ukuhlakanipha kwami, ulalele kuhle amazwi ami alombono,
[My] son, attend to my wisdom, and apply thine ear to my words;
2 ukuze uhlale ukwazi ukukhetha okuqondileyo lokuze izindebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
that thou mayest keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives thee a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;
3 Phela izindebe zesifebekazi zithonta uluju, lenkulumo yaso iyatshelela kulamafutha;
for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases thy palate:
4 kodwa ekucineni iyababa ingathi yinyongo, ibukhali njengenkemba esika nxa zombili.
but afterwards thou wilt find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.
For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established. (Sheol h7585)
6 Kasikhathali ukuthi kuphilwa njani; izindlela zaso ziyazombeleza, kodwa kasikuboni lokho.
For she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.
7 Ngalokho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; lingaphambuki kulokho engikukhulumayo.
Now then, [my] son, hear me, and make not my words of none effect.
8 Hambani ngendlela ekhatshana kwaso, lingasondeli emnyango wendlu yaso,
Remove thy way far from her; draw not near to the doors of her house:
9 funa unikele kwabanye amandla akho wonke lobudala bakho kulowo olesihluku,
lest thou give away thy life to others, and thy substance to the merciless:
10 funa abemzini bazitike ngenotho yakho lokusebenza kwakho kunothise umuzi wenye indoda.
lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours come into the houses of strangers;
11 Ekupheleni kokuphila kwakho uzabubula, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekugugile.
And thou repent at last, when the flesh of thy body is consumed,
12 Uzakuthi, “Uthi ngangikuzonda yini ukulaywa! Inhliziyo yami yayikuzonda njani ukuqondiswa!
and thou shalt say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart avoided reproofs!
13 Ngangingafuni ukulalela abafundisi bami kumbe ukulalela abeluleki bami.
I heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, neither did I apply mine ear.
14 Ngacina sengisenkingeni enkulu ngiphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.”
I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
15 Natha amanzi kowakho umgqomo, amanzi agelezayo kowakho umthombo.
Drink waters out of thine own vessels, and out of thine own springing wells.
16 Kambe imifudlana yakho ingayekelwa igelezela emigwaqweni, lezifula zakho zamanzi zigelezele ezinkundleni zabantu na?
Let not waters out of thy fountain be spilt by thee, but let thy waters go into thy streets.
17 Kazibe ngezakho wena wedwa, ungazabelani labafokazana nje.
Let them be only thine own, and let no stranger partake with thee.
18 Sengathi ungabusiswa umthombo wakho njalo sengathi ungathokoza ngomfazi wobutsha bakho.
Let thy fountain of water be [truly] thine own; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
19 Oyimpalakazi ethandekayo, imbabala ebutshelezi amabele akhe sengathi angakusuthisa lanini, nini lanini ukhangwe luthando lwakhe.
Let [thy] loving hart and thy graceful colt company with thee, and let her be considered thine own, and be with thee at all times; for ravished with her love thou shalt be greatly increased.
20 Kungani ndodana yami, uthunjwa yisifebekazi? Kungani ugona iqolo lomfazi wenye indoda?
Be not intimate with a strange woman, neither fold thyself in the arms of a woman not thine own.
21 Phela izindlela zomuntu zisobala kuThixo, uyazihlola zonke izindlela zakhe.
For the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, and he looks on all his paths.
22 Izenzo ezimbi zomuntu omubi ziyamthiya; izibopho zesono sakhe zimuthe nko.
Iniquities ensnare a man, and every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.
23 Uzabhubha ngoba engalayeki, elahlekiswa yibuphukuphuku bakhe.
Such a man dies with the uninstructed; and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.
