Izaga 5
1 Ndodana yami, nanzelela ukuhlakanipha kwami, ulalele kuhle amazwi ami alombono,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen carefully as I explain what makes sense,
2 ukuze uhlale ukwazi ukukhetha okuqondileyo lokuze izindebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
so you can make good decisions and protect knowledge with your lips.
3 Phela izindebe zesifebekazi zithonta uluju, lenkulumo yaso iyatshelela kulamafutha;
For the lips of an immoral woman may taste as sweet as honey, the kisses of her mouth may be as smooth as oil,
4 kodwa ekucineni iyababa ingathi yinyongo, ibukhali njengenkemba esika nxa zombili.
but in the end what you get from her is the bitterness of wormwood and the sharp pain of being cut with a two-edged sword.
She leads you down to death; she takes you down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
6 Kasikhathali ukuthi kuphilwa njani; izindlela zaso ziyazombeleza, kodwa kasikuboni lokho.
She doesn't follow the path that leads to life—she wanders away and doesn't even know she's lost.
7 Ngalokho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; lingaphambuki kulokho engikukhulumayo.
Now, my son, listen to me; don't reject what I have taught you.
8 Hambani ngendlela ekhatshana kwaso, lingasondeli emnyango wendlu yaso,
Stay far away from her! Don't go near the door of her house!
9 funa unikele kwabanye amandla akho wonke lobudala bakho kulowo olesihluku,
Otherwise you'll surrender your honor to others, and your character to cruel people.
10 funa abemzini bazitike ngenotho yakho lokusebenza kwakho kunothise umuzi wenye indoda.
Strangers will spend your wealth; everything you've worked for will go to someone else.
11 Ekupheleni kokuphila kwakho uzabubula, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekugugile.
When you come to the end of your life you'll moan in pain as disease destroys your body.
12 Uzakuthi, “Uthi ngangikuzonda yini ukulaywa! Inhliziyo yami yayikuzonda njani ukuqondiswa!
You'll say, “How I used to hate discipline, and my mind rebelled against being corrected!
13 Ngangingafuni ukulalela abafundisi bami kumbe ukulalela abeluleki bami.
I didn't listen to what my teacher said. I didn't pay attention to my instructors.
14 Ngacina sengisenkingeni enkulu ngiphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.”
Now I'm on the verge of being completely disgraced before everyone in the community.”
15 Natha amanzi kowakho umgqomo, amanzi agelezayo kowakho umthombo.
Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.
16 Kambe imifudlana yakho ingayekelwa igelezela emigwaqweni, lezifula zakho zamanzi zigelezele ezinkundleni zabantu na?
Why should your springs be spilled outside, your streams of water poured out in the streets?
17 Kazibe ngezakho wena wedwa, ungazabelani labafokazana nje.
Keep them for yourselves alone. They're not for you to share with strangers.
18 Sengathi ungabusiswa umthombo wakho njalo sengathi ungathokoza ngomfazi wobutsha bakho.
May your spring of water be blessed, and may you enjoy the wife you married when you were young.
19 Oyimpalakazi ethandekayo, imbabala ebutshelezi amabele akhe sengathi angakusuthisa lanini, nini lanini ukhangwe luthando lwakhe.
May she be to you a loving deer, a graceful doe. May her breasts always be intoxicating to you; may you be drunk on her love forever.
20 Kungani ndodana yami, uthunjwa yisifebekazi? Kungani ugona iqolo lomfazi wenye indoda?
Why, my son, become intoxicated with an immoral woman? Why embrace the breasts of a woman who acts like a prostitute?
21 Phela izindlela zomuntu zisobala kuThixo, uyazihlola zonke izindlela zakhe.
For the Lord sees everything people do, the Lord investigates everywhere they go.
22 Izenzo ezimbi zomuntu omubi ziyamthiya; izibopho zesono sakhe zimuthe nko.
The wicked are trapped by their evil actions; the cords of their sins tie them up.
23 Uzabhubha ngoba engalayeki, elahlekiswa yibuphukuphuku bakhe.
They will die because they lack self-control, lost because of their great stupidity.
