Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
My son, observe my sayings, and my commandments must thou treasure up with thee.
2 Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
Observe my commandments, and live: and my teaching as the apple of thy eyes.
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
Bind them around 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 an adulterous woman, from an alien that useth flattering speeches.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
For through the window of my house, through my lattice did I [once] look out,
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a lad void of sense;
8 Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
He was passing through the market-place near her corner; and he stepped along on the way to her house,
9 ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
In the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the depth of the night and when it was dark:
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
And, behold, a woman came to meet him with the attire of a harlot, and obdurate of heart.
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
(She is noisy and ungovernable; in her house her feet never rest;
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
At one time she is in the street, at another in the open places, and near every corner doth she lurk, )
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
And she caught hold of him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face she said to him,
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
“I had bound myself to bring peace-offerings; this day have I paid my vows:
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
Therefore am I come forth to meet thee, to seek thy presence diligently, and I have found thee.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
With tapestry coverings have I decked my bed, with embroidered coverlids of the fine linen of Egypt.
17 Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
I have sprinkled my couch with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
Come, let us indulge in love until the morning: let us delight ourselves with dalliances.
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For the man is not in his house, he is gone on a journey a great way off:
20 Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
The bag of money hath he taken with him, by the day of the new-moon festival only will he come home.”
21 Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
She seduced him by the abundance of her reasoning: by the flattery of her lips she misguided him.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
He followed after her suddenly, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, and as in fetters to his correction, the fool:
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
Till an arrow cleaveth through his liver; as a bird hasteneth into the snare, and knoweth not that it is done to take his life.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
And now, O children, hearken unto me, and listen to the sayings of my mouth.
25 Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
Let not thy heart turn aside to her ways, do not go astray on her paths.
26 Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
For many deadly wounded hath she caused to fall: yea, very numerous are all those slain by her.
