Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
My son, keep my words and store up my commands within yourself.
2 Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
Keep my commands and live and keep my instruction as the apple of your eye.
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
Tie them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,
5 lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
in order to keep yourself from the adulterous woman, from the immoral woman with her smooth words.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
At the window of my house I was looking out through the lattice.
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
I looked at the naive people, and I noticed among the young men a youth who had no sense.
8 Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
That young man passed down the street near her corner, and he went toward her house.
9 ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
It was twilight, in the evening of the day, at the time of night and darkness.
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
There a woman met him, dressed like a prostitute, with a false heart.
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
She was loud and wayward; her feet did not stay at home.
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
Now in the streets, then in the market place, and at every corner she waited in ambush.
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
So she grabbed him and kissed him, with a strong face she said to him,
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
“I made my peace offering today, I paid my vows,
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
so came I out to meet you, to eagerly seek your face, and I have found you.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
I have spread coverings on my bed, colored linens from 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 drink our fill of love until morning; let us take great pleasure in acts of love.
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For my husband is not at his house; he has gone on a long journey.
20 Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
He took a bag of money with him; he will return on the day of the full moon.”
21 Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
With much talk she turned him; with her smooth lips she misled him.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
He went after her suddenly like an ox going to slaughter, like a deer caught in a trap,
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
until an arrow pierces through its liver. He was like a bird rushing into a snare. He did not know that it would cost his life.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
Now, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
May your heart not turn aside onto her paths; do not be led astray onto her paths.
26 Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
She has caused many people to fall down pierced; her dead victims are very many.
