Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
My son, guard my words and conceal my precepts within you.
2 Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
Son, preserve my commandments, and you shall live. And keep my law as the pupil of your eye.
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
Bind it with your fingers; write it on the tablets of your heart.
4 Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call prudence your friend.
5 lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
So may she guard you from the woman who is an outsider, and from the stranger who sweetens her words.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
For I gaze from the window of my house, through the lattice,
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
and I see little ones. I consider a frenzied youth,
8 Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
who crosses the street at the corner and close to the way of that house.
9 ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
He steps into shadows, as day becomes evening, into the darkness and gloom of the night.
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
And behold, a woman meets him, dressed like a harlot, prepared to captivate souls: chattering and rambling,
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
unwilling to bear silence, unable to keep her feet at home,
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
now outside, now in the streets, now lying in ambush near the corners.
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
And overtaking the youth, she kisses him, and with a provocative face, she flatters him, saying:
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
“I vowed sacrifices for well-being. Today I have repaid my vows.
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
Because of this, I have gone out to meet you, desiring to see you, and I have found you.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
I have woven my bed with cords. I have strewn it with embroidered tapestries from Egypt.
17 Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloe, and cinnamon.
18 Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
Come, let us be inebriated in abundance, and let us delight in the embraces of desire, until the day begins to dawn.
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For my husband is not in his house. He has gone away on a very long journey.
20 Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
He took with him a bag of money. He will return to his house on the day of the full moon.”
21 Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
She enmeshed him with many words, and she drew him forward with the flattery of her lips.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
Immediately, he follows her, like an ox being led to the sacrifice, and like a lamb acting lasciviously, and not knowing that he is being drawn foolishly into chains,
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
until the arrow pierces his liver. It is just as if a bird were to hurry into the snare. And he does not know that his actions endanger his own soul.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
Therefore, my son, hear me now, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
Do not let your mind be pulled into her ways. And do not be deceived by her paths.
26 Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
For she has tossed aside many wounded, and some of those who were very strong have been slain by her.
