Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.
2 Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
Keep my commandments and live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,
5 lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice.
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment,
8 Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house,
9 ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night.
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart.
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home.
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him:
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
“I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows.
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt.
17 Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon.
18 Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses!
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
20 Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.”
21 Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap,
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare— not knowing it will cost him his life.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
Now, my sons, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her paths.
26 Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
For she has brought many down to death; her slain are many in number.
