Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
Keep my commandments and live, and my law as the apple of thine eye.
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
Bind them upon thy fingers. Write them upon the tablet of thy heart.
4 Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
Say to wisdom, Thou are my sister, and call understanding thy kinswoman,
5 lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
that they may keep thee from the interloping woman, from the stranger who flatters with her words.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice,
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
and I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding
8 Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
passing through the street near her corner. And he went the way to her house,
9 ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness.
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
And, behold, there met him a woman attired like a harlot, and wily of heart.
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
She is loud and headstrong. Her feet abide not in her house.
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, and lies in wait at every corner.
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him,
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. I have paid my vows this day.
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
Therefore I came forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
17 Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
I have perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning. Let us solace ourselves with love.
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For the man is not at home. He has gone a long journey.
20 Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.
21 Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
With her much fair speech she causes him to yield. With the flattering of her lips she forces him along.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
He goes after her straightaway, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
till an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hastens to the snare. And he does not know that it is for his life.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
Now therefore, ye sons, hearken to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
Let not thy heart decline to her ways. Go not astray in her paths.
26 Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
For she has cast down many wounded. Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.
