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 law as the apple of thy 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 to 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 stranger [which] flattereth with her words.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
And beheld among the simple 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, in the black and dark night:
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
And behold, there met him a woman [with] the attire of a harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
(She [is] loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
Now [is she] without, now in the streets, 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 said to him,
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
[I have] peace-offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows.
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
Therefore I came forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved [works], with fine linen 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 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 bag of money with him, [and] will come home at the day appointed.
21 Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she impelled him.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
He goeth after her quickly, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
Till a dart striketh through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it [is] for his life.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children, 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: yes, many strong [men] have been slain by her.
