Izaga 5
1 Ndodana yami, nanzelela ukuhlakanipha kwami, ulalele kuhle amazwi ami alombono,
My son, attend unto my wisdom, incline thine ear to my understanding;
2 ukuze uhlale ukwazi ukukhetha okuqondileyo lokuze izindebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
that thou mayest keep reflection, and that thy lips may preserve knowledge.
3 Phela izindebe zesifebekazi zithonta uluju, lenkulumo yaso iyatshelela kulamafutha;
For the lips of the strange woman drop honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil;
4 kodwa ekucineni iyababa ingathi yinyongo, ibukhali njengenkemba esika nxa zombili.
but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
6 Kasikhathali ukuthi kuphilwa njani; izindlela zaso ziyazombeleza, kodwa kasikuboni lokho.
Lest she should ponder the path of life, her ways wander, she knoweth not [whither].
7 Ngalokho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; lingaphambuki kulokho engikukhulumayo.
And now, children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
8 Hambani ngendlela ekhatshana kwaso, lingasondeli emnyango wendlu yaso,
Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
9 funa unikele kwabanye amandla akho wonke lobudala bakho kulowo olesihluku,
lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel;
10 funa abemzini bazitike ngenotho yakho lokusebenza kwakho kunothise umuzi wenye indoda.
lest strangers be filled with thy wealth, and the fruits of thy toil [come] into the house of a stranger;
11 Ekupheleni kokuphila kwakho uzabubula, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekugugile.
and thou mourn in thine end, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed;
12 Uzakuthi, “Uthi ngangikuzonda yini ukulaywa! Inhliziyo yami yayikuzonda njani ukuqondiswa!
and thou say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof!
13 Ngangingafuni ukulalela abafundisi bami kumbe ukulalela abeluleki bami.
and I have not hearkened unto the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to those that instructed me;
14 Ngacina sengisenkingeni enkulu ngiphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.”
I was well nigh 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 cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
16 Kambe imifudlana yakho ingayekelwa igelezela emigwaqweni, lezifula zakho zamanzi zigelezele ezinkundleni zabantu na?
Thy fountains shall be poured forth, as water-brooks in the broadways.
17 Kazibe ngezakho wena wedwa, ungazabelani labafokazana nje.
Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
18 Sengathi ungabusiswa umthombo wakho njalo sengathi ungathokoza ngomfazi wobutsha bakho.
Let thy fountain be blessed; and have joy of the wife of thy youth.
19 Oyimpalakazi ethandekayo, imbabala ebutshelezi amabele akhe sengathi angakusuthisa lanini, nini lanini ukhangwe luthando lwakhe.
As a lovely hind and a graceful roe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times: be thou ravished continually with her love.
20 Kungani ndodana yami, uthunjwa yisifebekazi? Kungani ugona iqolo lomfazi wenye indoda?
And why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
21 Phela izindlela zomuntu zisobala kuThixo, uyazihlola zonke izindlela zakhe.
For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah, and he pondereth all his paths.
22 Izenzo ezimbi zomuntu omubi ziyamthiya; izibopho zesono sakhe zimuthe nko.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
23 Uzabhubha ngoba engalayeki, elahlekiswa yibuphukuphuku bakhe.
He shall die for want of discipline; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
