Izaga 5
1 Ndodana yami, nanzelela ukuhlakanipha kwami, ulalele kuhle amazwi ami alombono,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding,
2 ukuze uhlale ukwazi ukukhetha okuqondileyo lokuze izindebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 Phela izindebe zesifebekazi zithonta uluju, lenkulumo yaso iyatshelela kulamafutha;
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
4 kodwa ekucineni iyababa ingathi yinyongo, ibukhali njengenkemba esika nxa zombili.
but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
6 Kasikhathali ukuthi kuphilwa njani; izindlela zaso ziyazombeleza, kodwa kasikuboni lokho.
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.
7 Ngalokho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; lingaphambuki kulokho engikukhulumayo.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Hambani ngendlela ekhatshana kwaso, lingasondeli emnyango wendlu yaso,
Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,
9 funa unikele kwabanye amandla akho wonke lobudala bakho kulowo olesihluku,
lest you give your honour to others, and your years to the cruel one;
10 funa abemzini bazitike ngenotho yakho lokusebenza kwakho kunothise umuzi wenye indoda.
lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labours enrich another man’s house.
11 Ekupheleni kokuphila kwakho uzabubula, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekugugile.
You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 Uzakuthi, “Uthi ngangikuzonda yini ukulaywa! Inhliziyo yami yayikuzonda njani ukuqondiswa!
and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.
13 Ngangingafuni ukulalela abafundisi bami kumbe ukulalela abeluleki bami.
I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!
14 Ngacina sengisenkingeni enkulu ngiphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.”
I have come to the brink of utter ruin, amongst the gathered assembly.”
15 Natha amanzi kowakho umgqomo, amanzi agelezayo kowakho umthombo.
Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.
16 Kambe imifudlana yakho ingayekelwa igelezela emigwaqweni, lezifula zakho zamanzi zigelezele ezinkundleni zabantu na?
Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?
17 Kazibe ngezakho wena wedwa, ungazabelani labafokazana nje.
Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.
18 Sengathi ungabusiswa umthombo wakho njalo sengathi ungathokoza ngomfazi wobutsha bakho.
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 Oyimpalakazi ethandekayo, imbabala ebutshelezi amabele akhe sengathi angakusuthisa lanini, nini lanini ukhangwe luthando lwakhe.
A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
20 Kungani ndodana yami, uthunjwa yisifebekazi? Kungani ugona iqolo lomfazi wenye indoda?
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?
21 Phela izindlela zomuntu zisobala kuThixo, uyazihlola zonke izindlela zakhe.
For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.
22 Izenzo ezimbi zomuntu omubi ziyamthiya; izibopho zesono sakhe zimuthe nko.
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
23 Uzabhubha ngoba engalayeki, elahlekiswa yibuphukuphuku bakhe.
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
