Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
My son, keep my sayings, and let my rules be stored up with you.
2 Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
Keep my rules and you will have life; let my teaching be to you as the light of your eyes;
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
Let them be fixed to your fingers, and recorded in your heart.
4 Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
Say to wisdom, You are my sister; let knowledge be named your special friend:
5 lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even from her whose words are smooth.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
Looking out from my house, and watching through the window,
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
I saw among the young men one without sense,
8 Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
Walking in the street near the turn of her road, going on the way to her house,
9 ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
At nightfall, in the evening of the day, in the black dark of the night.
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
And the woman came out to him, in the dress of a loose woman, with a designing heart;
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
She is full of noise and uncontrolled; her feet keep not in her house.
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road.
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him:
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
I have a feast of peace-offerings, for today my oaths have been effected.
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
So I came out in the hope of meeting you, looking for you with care, and now I have you.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
My bed is covered with cushions of needlework, with coloured cloths of the cotton thread of Egypt;
17 Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
I have made my bed sweet with perfumes and spices.
18 Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
Come, let us take our pleasure in love till the morning, having joy in love's delights.
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For the master of the house is away on 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 is coming back at the full moon.
21 Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
The simple man goes after her, like an ox going to its death, like a roe pulled by a cord;
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
Like a bird falling into a net; with no thought that his life is in danger, till an arrow goes into his side.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
So now, my sons, give ear to me; give attention to the sayings of my mouth;
25 Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps.
26 Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
For those wounded and made low by her are great in number; and all those who have come to their death through her are a great army.
