Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, agcine amazwi ami ulondoloze imilayo yami ngaphakathi kwakho.
My son! keep my sayings, And my commands lay up with thee.
2 Gcina imilayo yami ukuze uphile; ulinde imfundiso yami njengegugu lakho elikhulu.
Keep my commands, and live, And my law as the pupil of thine eye.
3 Ibophele eminweni yakho; uyilobe enhliziyweni yakho.
Bind them on thy fingers, Write them on the tablet of thy heart.
4 Tshela ukuhlakanipha uthi, “Ungudadewethu wena,” uthi ukuqedisisa kuyisihlobo sakho;
Say to wisdom, 'My sister Thou [art].' And cry to understanding, 'Kinswoman!'
5 lezizinto zizakuvikela emfazini oyisifebe, lakumkakho ongelambeko ngamazwi akhe adukisayo.
To preserve thee from a strange woman, From a stranger who hath made smooth her sayings.
6 Ngema ewindini lendlu yami ngalunguza ngesikhala.
For, at a window of my house, Through my casement I have looked out,
7 Ngabona phakathi kwabayizithutha, ngananzelela phakathi kwamajaha ngabona ijaha elingelangqondo.
And I do see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding,
8 Lalisehla ngomgwaqo liseduze lejiko, liqonda endlini yowesifazane
Passing on in the street, near her corner, And the way [to] her house he doth step,
9 ntambama sekunqunda amehlo, umnyama wobusuku usujiya.
In the twilight — in the evening of day, In the darkness of night and blackness.
10 Khonokho nje kwaqhamuka owesifazane elihlangabeza egqoke okwesifebe ngoba eqophile.
And, lo, a woman to meet him — (A harlot's dress, and watchful of heart,
11 (Umfazi lowo, ngumuntu womsindo uyisiqholo, inyawo zakhe kazihlali phansi;
Noisy she [is], and stubborn, In her house her feet rest not.
12 khathesi nangu emgwaqweni, njalo nangu enkundleni, utshobatshoba izindawana zonke.)
Now in an out-place, now in broad places, And near every corner she lieth in wait) —
13 Wafika waligona lelijaha walanga wakhuluma engelanhloni wathi:
And she laid hold on him, and kissed him, She hath hardened her face, and saith to him,
14 “Ngenzile umnikelo wobudlelwano ngekhaya; lamuhla ngizigcwalisile izifungo zami.
'Sacrifices of peace-offerings [are] by me, To-day I have completed my vows.
15 Yikho ngilapha ukukuhlangabeza; sengikudinge ngaze ngakuthola!
Therefore I have come forth to meet thee, To seek earnestly thy face, and I find thee.
16 Sengiwendlele umbheda wami ngamalineni eGibhithe awemibalabala.
[With] ornamental coverings I decked my couch, Carved works — cotton of Egypt.
17 Sengiwuqholile umbheda wami ngemure, ngenhlaba langesinamoni.
I sprinkled my bed — myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Woza sizitike ngothando kuze kuse; kasizijabulise ngothando!
Come, we are filled [with] loves till the morning, We delight ourselves in loves.
19 Indoda yami kayikho ekhaya; ihambile iye khatshana.
For the man is not in his house, He hath gone on a long journey.
20 Ithwele isikhwama sayo sigcwele imali, ngakho kayibuyi kuze kube phakathi kwenyanga.”
A bag of money he hath taken in his hand, At the day of the new moon he cometh to his house.'
21 Ngamazwi akhe amnandi waledukisa ijaha lelo; walihuga ijaha lelo ngolimi olumnandi.
She turneth him aside with the abundance of her speech, With the flattery of her lips she forceth him.
22 Khonokho nje lahle lamlandela njengenkabi idonselwa ukuyabulawa, njengomziki uzingenisa emjibileni,
He is going after her straightway, As an ox unto the slaughter he cometh, And as a fetter unto the chastisement of a fool,
23 umtshoko uze uyehlaba isibindi, njengenyoni ithothela ngaphansi kwesifu, ingaboni ukuthi isizingenise ekufeni.
Till an arrow doth split his liver, As a bird hath hastened unto a snare, And hath not known that it [is] for its life.
24 Ngakho-ke madodana ami, ngilalelani; zwanini lokhu engikutshoyo.
And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And give attention to sayings of my mouth.
25 Lingayivumeli inhliziyo ikhangwe yizindlela zakhe, langabe iphumputhekele emikhubeni yakhe.
Let not thy heart turn unto her ways, Do not wander in her paths,
26 Banengi labo asebadilizile; izinkubela zakhe zilucaca olwesabekayo.
For many [are] the wounded she caused to fall, And mighty [are] all her slain ones.
