Izaga 9
1 Ukuhlakanipha sekuzakhele indlu yakho, imisiwe ngezinsika eziyisikhombisa.
Wisdom hath builded her house, She hath hewn out her pillars — seven.
2 Isiphekiwe inyama yakho kwalungiswa lewayini; konke sekudekiwe etafuleni.
She hath slaughtered her slaughter, She hath mingled her wine, Yea, she hath arranged her table.
3 Usewathumile amantombazana, uyanxusa emi ezindaweni eziphakemeyo zedolobho.
She hath sent forth her damsels, She crieth on the tops of the high places of the city:
4 “Akuthi bonke abayizithutha beze lapha!” Esitsho kulabo abangaqedisisiyo.
'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' Whoso lacketh heart: she hath said to him,
5 “Wozani lidle ukudla kwami linathe iwayini esengililungisile.
'Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine I have mingled.
6 Lahlani izindlela zenu zobuthutha lizaphila; hambani ngendlela yokuzwisisa.”
Forsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding.
7 Lowo oweluleka oklolodayo ubiza inhlamba; okhuza umuntu oxhwalileyo ucina ethethiswa.
The instructor of a scorner Is receiving for it — shame, And a reprover of the wicked — his blemish.
8 Ungakhuzi isiqholo ngoba sizakuzonda; khuza ohlakaniphileyo uzakuthanda.
Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth thee.
9 Yeluleka umuntu ohlakaniphileyo uzakwandisa ukuhlakanipha kwakhe; fundisa umuntu olungileyo, uzakwengeza ulwazi lwakhe.
Give to the wise, and he is wiser still, Make known to the righteous, And he increaseth learning.
10 Ukumesaba uThixo kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, njalo ulwazi ngaLowo oNgcwele luyikuqedisisa.
The commencement of wisdom [is] the fear of Jehovah, And a knowledge of the Holy Ones [is] understanding.
11 Ngoba ngami zizakuba zinengi insuku zakho, kwandiswe iminyaka yokuphila kwakho.
For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.
12 Nxa uhlakaniphile, ukuhlakanipha kwakho kuzakusiza; aluba uyisiqholo, uzahlupheka wedwa.
If thou hast been wise, thou hast been wise for thyself, And thou hast scorned — thyself bearest [it].
13 Umfazi othiwa nguBuwula ulomsindo; kagobeki njalo kazi lutho.
A foolish woman [is] noisy, Simple, and hath not known what.
14 Uthanda ukuhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni endaweni esesiqongweni sedolobho,
And she hath sat at the opening of her house, On a throne — the high places of the city,
15 abe ehuga labo abedlulayo, abahamba beqonde lapho abaya khona.
To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight [on] their paths.
16 “Abeze lapha bonke abayizithutha!” Esitsho kulabo abangacabangiyo.
'Who [is] simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart — she said to him,
17 “Ulutho lokuntshontshwa lumnandi; ukudla okudlelwa ensitha kuyahlabusa!”
'Stolen waters are sweet, And hidden bread is pleasant.'
