Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.
2 Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye.
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative,
5 lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
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
passing through the street near her corner, 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 middle of the night and in the darkness.
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house.
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, 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’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving.
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey.
20 Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
He has taken a 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 persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,
26 Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.
