Izaga 5
1 Ndodana yami, nanzelela ukuhlakanipha kwami, ulalele kuhle amazwi ami alombono,
My son, attend unto my wisdom; to my understanding incline thou thy ear:
2 ukuze uhlale ukwazi ukukhetha okuqondileyo lokuze izindebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
That thou mayest observe discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
3 Phela izindebe zesifebekazi zithonta uluju, lenkulumo yaso iyatshelela kulamafutha;
For as of fine honey drop the lips of an adulterous woman, and smoother than oil is her palate;
4 kodwa ekucineni iyababa ingathi yinyongo, ibukhali njengenkemba esika nxa zombili.
But her end is bitter as wormwood, it is sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death, her steps take firm hold on the nether world: (Sheol h7585)
6 Kasikhathali ukuthi kuphilwa njani; izindlela zaso ziyazombeleza, kodwa kasikuboni lokho.
So that she cannot balance the path of life; her tracks are unsteady, and she knoweth it not.
7 Ngalokho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; lingaphambuki kulokho engikukhulumayo.
And now, O ye children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the sayings of my mouth.
8 Hambani ngendlela ekhatshana kwaso, lingasondeli emnyango wendlu yaso,
Remove far from her thy way, and come not nigh to the door of her house;
9 funa unikele kwabanye amandla akho wonke lobudala bakho kulowo olesihluku,
That thou mayest not give up unto others thy vigor, and thy years unto the cruel;
10 funa abemzini bazitike ngenotho yakho lokusebenza kwakho kunothise umuzi wenye indoda.
That strangers may not satisfy themselves with thy strength, and with thy exertions, in the house of an alien:
11 Ekupheleni kokuphila kwakho uzabubula, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekugugile.
While thou moanest at thy end, when thy flesh and thy body are coming to their end,
12 Uzakuthi, “Uthi ngangikuzonda yini ukulaywa! Inhliziyo yami yayikuzonda njani ukuqondiswa!
And thou sayest, How have I hated correction, and how hath my heart rejected reproof;
13 Ngangingafuni ukulalela abafundisi bami kumbe ukulalela abeluleki bami.
While I hearkened not to the voice of my instructors, and to my teachers I inclined not my ear;
14 Ngacina sengisenkingeni enkulu ngiphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.”
But little more was wanting, and I had been in all [kinds of] unhappiness in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
15 Natha amanzi kowakho umgqomo, amanzi agelezayo kowakho umthombo.
Drink water out of thy own cistern, and running waters out of thy own well.
16 Kambe imifudlana yakho ingayekelwa igelezela emigwaqweni, lezifula zakho zamanzi zigelezele ezinkundleni zabantu na?
So will thy springs overflow abroad; and in the open streets will be thy rivulets of water;
17 Kazibe ngezakho wena wedwa, ungazabelani labafokazana nje.
They will be thy own only, and not those of strangers with thee.
18 Sengathi ungabusiswa umthombo wakho njalo sengathi ungathokoza ngomfazi wobutsha bakho.
Thy fountain will 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.
The lovely gazelle and the graceful chamois: let her bosom satisfy thee abundantly at all times; with her love be thou ravished continually.
20 Kungani ndodana yami, uthunjwa yisifebekazi? Kungani ugona iqolo lomfazi wenye indoda?
And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with an adulteress, and embrace the bosom of an alien woman?
21 Phela izindlela zomuntu zisobala kuThixo, uyazihlola zonke izindlela zakhe.
For before the eyes of the Lord are the ways of man, and all his tracks doth he weigh in the balance.
22 Izenzo ezimbi zomuntu omubi ziyamthiya; izibopho zesono sakhe zimuthe nko.
His own iniquities will truly catch the wicked, and with the cords of his sin will he be held firmly.
23 Uzabhubha ngoba engalayeki, elahlekiswa yibuphukuphuku bakhe.
He will indeed die for want of correction; and through the abundance of his folly will he sink into error.
