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 teaching as the apple of thine eye.
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart.
4 Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
Say unto wisdom: 'Thou art my sister', and call understanding thy kinswoman;
5 lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the alien woman that maketh smooth 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 thoughtless 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 blackness of night and the darkness.
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
She is riotous and rebellious, 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 lieth in wait at every corner.
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face she said unto him:
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
'Sacrifices of peace-offerings were due from me; this day have I paid my vows.
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
I have decked my couch with coverlets, 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 loves.
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For my husband is not at home, he is gone a long journey;
20 Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
He hath taken the 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 causeth him to yield, with the blandishment of her lips she enticeth him away.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox that goeth to the slaughter, or as one in fetters to the correction of the fool;
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
Till an arrow strike through his liver; as a bird hasteneth to the snare — and knoweth not that it is at the cost of his life.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
Now therefore, O ye children, hearken unto 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 hath cast down many wounded; yea, a mighty host are all her slain.
