Izaga 9
1 Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars:
2 Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table.
3 Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
She has sent forth her maidens: she cries upon the highest places of the city,
4 “Akuthi bonke abayizithutha beze lapha!” Esitsho kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.
Whoso is simple, let him turn in here: as for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
5 “Wozani lidle ukudla kwami linathe iwayini esengililungisile.
Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
7 Lowo oweluleka oklolodayo ubiza inhlamba; okhuza umuntu oxhwalileyo ucina ethethiswa.
He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame: and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot.
8 Ungakhuzi isiqholo ngoba sizakuzonda; khuza ohlakaniphileyo uzakuthanda.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Yeluleka umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzakwandisa ukuhlakanipha kwakhe; fundisa umuntu olungileyo, uzakwengeza ulwazi lwakhe.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 Ukumesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, njalo ulwazi ngaLowo oNgcwele luyikuqedisisa.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
11 Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
For by me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.
12 Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
If you be wise, you shall be wise for yourself: but if you scorn, you alone shall bear it.
13 Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 Uthanda ukuhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni endaweni esesiqongweni sedolobho,
For she sits at the door 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 passengers who go right on their ways:
16 “Abeze lapha bonke abayizithutha!” Esitsho kulabo abangacabangiyo.
Whoso is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him that wants understanding, she says to him,
17 “Ulutho lokuntshontshwa lumnandi; ukudla okudlelwa ensitha kuyahlabusa!”
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
