Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
[My] son, keep my words, and hide with you my commandments. [My] son, honour the Lord, and you shall be strong; and fear none but him:
2 Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
keep my commandments, and you shall live; and [keep] my words as the pupils of [your] eyes.
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
And bind them on your fingers, and write [them] on the table of your heart.
4 Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
Say that wisdom is your sister, and gain prudence as an acquaintance for yourself;
5 lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
that she may keep you from the strange and wicked woman, if she should assail you with flattering words.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
For she looks from a window out of her house into the streets, at one whom she may see of the senseless ones, a young man void of understanding,
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
passing by the corner in the passages near her house,
8 Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
and speaking, in the dark of the evening,
9 ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
when there happens [to be] the stillness of night and of darkness:
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter.
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
And she is fickle, and debauched, and her feet abide not at home.
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
For at one time she wanders without, and at [another] time she lies in wait in the streets, at every corner.
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
Then she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
I have a peace-offering; today I pay my vows:
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
therefore I came forth to meet you, desiring your face; [and] I have found you.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
I have spread my bed with sheets, and I have covered it with double tapestry from Egypt.
17 Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon.
18 Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
Come, and let us enjoy love until the morning; come, and let us embrace in love.
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For my husband is not at home, but is gone on a long journey,
20 Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
having taken in his hand a bundle of money: after many days he will return to his house.
21 Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
So with much converse she prevailed on him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from [the right path].
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
And he followed her, being gently led on, and [that] as an ox is led to the slaughter, and as a dog to bonds, or as a hart shot in the liver with an arrow:
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
and he hastens as a bird into a snare, not knowing that he is running for [his] life.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
Now then, [my] son, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
Let not your heart turn aside to her ways:
26 Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
for she has wounded and cast down many, and those whom she has slain are innumerable.
