Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
My son, keep my words, And treasure up my commandments with thee!
2 Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
Keep my commandments and live! Yea, my teaching, as the apple of thine eye!
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
Bind them upon thy fingers, Write them upon the tablet of thy heart!
4 Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
Say unto wisdom, “Thou art my sister!” And call understanding thy near acquaintance;
5 lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
That they may keep thee from the wife of another, From the stranger, that useth smooth words.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
For through the window of my house, Through the lattice I was looking forth,
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
And I saw among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding.
8 Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
He was passing through the street near her corner, And was going the way to her house,
9 ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
At twilight, in the evening, At midnight, yea, in the thick darkness.
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
And, behold, a woman met him, In the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart, —
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
One noisy and unruly, Whose feet abide not in her house;
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
Who is now in the streets, now in the broad places, And lurketh near every corner.
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
She caught hold of him and kissed him, And with a shameless face said to him,
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
“Thank-offerings have been upon me, And this day have I performed my vows;
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, —Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee!
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
I have spread my bed with coverlets, With tapestry of the thread of Egypt.
17 Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
I have sprinkled 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 caresses.
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For the good-man 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 a purse of money with him; At the day of the full moon he will return.”
21 Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
By her much fair speech she seduced him; By the smoothness of her lips she drew him away.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the chastisement 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 into the snare, And knoweth not that it is laid for its life.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
Now, therefore, ye children, hearken to me, And attend to the words of my mouth!
25 Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
Let not thy heart turn aside to her ways; Go not astray in her paths!
26 Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
For many are the wounded which she hath cast down; Yea, countless is the number of those slain by her.
