Izaga 9
1 Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
2 Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;
3 Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,
4 “Akuthi bonke abayizithutha beze lapha!” Esitsho kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,
5 “Wozani lidle ukudla kwami linathe iwayini esengililungisile.
Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled.
6 Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.
7 Lowo oweluleka oklolodayo ubiza inhlamba; okhuza umuntu oxhwalileyo ucina ethethiswa.
He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.
8 Ungakhuzi isiqholo ngoba sizakuzonda; khuza ohlakaniphileyo uzakuthanda.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise [man], and he will love thee.
9 Yeluleka umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzakwandisa ukuhlakanipha kwakhe; fundisa umuntu olungileyo, uzakwengeza ulwazi lwakhe.
Impart to a wise [man], and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous [man], and he will increase learning.
10 Ukumesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, njalo ulwazi ngaLowo oNgcwele luyikuqedisisa.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the Holy is intelligence.
11 Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
12 Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.
14 Uthanda ukuhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni endaweni esesiqongweni sedolobho,
And she sitteth at the entry of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 abe ehuga labo abedlulayo, abahamba beqonde lapho abaya khona.
to call passers-by who go right on their ways:
16 “Abeze lapha bonke abayizithutha!” Esitsho kulabo abangacabangiyo.
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
17 “Ulutho lokuntshontshwa lumnandi; ukudla okudlelwa ensitha kuyahlabusa!”
Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.
