Izaga 5
1 Ndodana yami, nanzelela ukuhlakanipha kwami, ulalele kuhle amazwi ami alombono,
My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence.
2 ukuze uhlale ukwazi ukukhetha okuqondileyo lokuze izindebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman.
3 Phela izindebe zesifebekazi zithonta uluju, lenkulumo yaso iyatshelela kulamafutha;
For the lips of a harlot are like a honeycomb dropping, and her throat is smoother than oil.
4 kodwa ekucineni iyababa ingathi yinyongo, ibukhali njengenkemba esika nxa zombili.
But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down into death, and her steps go in as far as hell. (Sheol h7585)
6 Kasikhathali ukuthi kuphilwa njani; izindlela zaso ziyazombeleza, kodwa kasikuboni lokho.
They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and unaccountable.
7 Ngalokho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; lingaphambuki kulokho engikukhulumayo.
Now therefore, my son, hear 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 doors of her house.
9 funa unikele kwabanye amandla akho wonke lobudala bakho kulowo olesihluku,
Give not thy honour to strangers, and thy years to the cruel.
10 funa abemzini bazitike ngenotho yakho lokusebenza kwakho kunothise umuzi wenye indoda.
Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in another man’s house,
11 Ekupheleni kokuphila kwakho uzabubula, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekugugile.
And thou mourn it the last, when thou shalt have spent thy flesh and thy body, and say:
12 Uzakuthi, “Uthi ngangikuzonda yini ukulaywa! Inhliziyo yami yayikuzonda njani ukuqondiswa!
Why have I hated instruction, and my heart consented not to reproof,
13 Ngangingafuni ukulalela abafundisi bami kumbe ukulalela abeluleki bami.
And have not heard the voice of them that taught me, and have not inclined my ear to masters?
14 Ngacina sengisenkingeni enkulu ngiphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.”
I have almost been in all evil, in the midst of the church and of the congregation.
15 Natha amanzi kowakho umgqomo, amanzi agelezayo kowakho umthombo.
Drink water out of thy own cistern, and the streams of thy own well:
16 Kambe imifudlana yakho ingayekelwa igelezela emigwaqweni, lezifula zakho zamanzi zigelezele ezinkundleni zabantu na?
Let thy fountains be conveyed abroad, and in the streets divide thy waters.
17 Kazibe ngezakho wena wedwa, ungazabelani labafokazana nje.
Keep them to thyself alone, neither let strangers be partakers with thee.
18 Sengathi ungabusiswa umthombo wakho njalo sengathi ungathokoza ngomfazi wobutsha bakho.
Let thy vein be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth:
19 Oyimpalakazi ethandekayo, imbabala ebutshelezi amabele akhe sengathi angakusuthisa lanini, nini lanini ukhangwe luthando lwakhe.
Let her be thy dearest hind, and most agreeable fawn: let her breasts inebriate thee at all times; he thou delighted continually with her love.
20 Kungani ndodana yami, uthunjwa yisifebekazi? Kungani ugona iqolo lomfazi wenye indoda?
Why art thou seduced, my son, by a strange woman, and art cherished in the bosom of another?
21 Phela izindlela zomuntu zisobala kuThixo, uyazihlola zonke izindlela zakhe.
The Lord beholdeth the ways of man, and considereth all his steps.
22 Izenzo ezimbi zomuntu omubi ziyamthiya; izibopho zesono sakhe zimuthe nko.
His own iniquities catch the wicked, and he is fast bound with the ropes of his own sins.
23 Uzabhubha ngoba engalayeki, elahlekiswa yibuphukuphuku bakhe.
He shall die, because he hath not received instruction, and in the multitude of his folly he shall be deceived.
