Izaga 9
1 Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars.
2 Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
She hath killed her fatlings; She hath mingled her wine; Yea, she hath furnished her table.
3 Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth aloud upon the highest places of the city:
4 “Akuthi bonke abayizithutha beze lapha!” Esitsho kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.
“Whoever 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 of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled!
6 Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
Forsake folly, and live! And go forward in the way of understanding!
7 Lowo oweluleka oklolodayo ubiza inhlamba; okhuza umuntu oxhwalileyo ucina ethethiswa.
“He who correcteth a scoffer Bringeth shame upon himself; And he who rebuketh the wicked Bringeth upon himself a stain.
8 Ungakhuzi isiqholo ngoba sizakuzonda; khuza ohlakaniphileyo uzakuthanda.
Rebuke not a scoffer, lest he hate thee; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
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 righteous man, and he will increase his 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 Most Holy is understanding.
11 Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
Yea, through me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou art a scoffer, thou alone must bear it.”
13 Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
The foolish woman is clamorous; She is very simple, and careth for nothing.
14 Uthanda ukuhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni endaweni esesiqongweni sedolobho,
She sitteth at the door of her house, Upon a seat in the high places of the city,
15 abe ehuga labo abedlulayo, abahamba beqonde lapho abaya khona.
To call aloud to those that pass by, Who go straight forward in their ways,
16 “Abeze lapha bonke abayizithutha!” Esitsho kulabo abangacabangiyo.
“Whoever 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 water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
