Izaga 5
1 Ndodana yami, lalela inhlakanipho yami, beka indlebe yakho ekuqedisiseni kwami,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom, and incline your ear to my prudence,
2 ukuze uqaphele ingqondo, lendebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
so that you may guard your thinking, and so that your lips may preserve discipline. Do not pay attention to the deceit of a woman.
3 Ngoba indebe zowesifazana wemzini zithonta uluju, lomlomo wakhe ubutshelezi kulamafutha.
For the lips of a loose woman are like a dripping honeycomb, and her voice is smoother than oil.
4 Kodwa ukucina kwakhe kuyababa njengomhlonyane, kubukhali njengenkemba esika nhlangothi mbili.
But in the end, she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet descend into death, and her steps reach even to Hell. (Sheol h7585)
6 Hlezi ulinganise indlela yempilo, imikhondo yakhe iyazulazula, kananzeleli.
They do not walk along the path of life; her steps are wandering and untraceable.
7 Ngakho-ke, bantwana, ngilalelani, lingaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
Therefore, my son, listen to me now, and do not withdraw from the words of my mouth.
8 Dedisela indlela yakho khatshana laye, ungasondeli emnyango wendlu yakhe;
Make your way at a distance from her, and do not approach the doors of her house.
9 hlezi unikele udumo lwakho kwabanye, leminyaka yakho kolesihluku;
Do not give your honor to foreigners, and your years to the cruel.
10 hlezi abezizwe bazisuthise ngamandla akho, lemitshikatshika yakho ibe sendlini yowezizweni;
Otherwise, outsiders may be filled with your strength, and your labors may be in a foreign house,
11 njalo ububule ekupheleni kwakho, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekudliwe;
and you may mourn in the end, when you will have consumed your flesh and your body. And so you may say:
12 njalo uthi: Ngikuzonde njani ukulaywa, lenhliziyo yami yadelela ukukhuzwa!
“Why have I detested discipline, and why has my heart not been quieted by correction?
13 Kangizwanga-ke ilizwi labafundisi bami; kangibekanga indlebe zami kwabangifundisayo!
And why have I not listened to the voice of those who guided me? And why has my ear not inclined to my teachers?
14 Ngaphosa ngaba ebubini bonke phakathi kwebandla lenhlangano.
I have almost been with all evil in the midst of the church and of the assembly.”
15 Natha amanzi emgodini wakho, lemifula ephuma phakathi komthombo wakho.
Drink water from your own cistern and from the springs of your own well.
16 Imithombo yakho ichitheke phandle, izifula zamanzi emidangeni.
Let your fountains be diverted far and wide, and divide your waters in the streets.
17 Kakube ngokwakho wedwa, kungabi ngokwabezizweni kanye lawe.
Hold them for yourself alone, and do not let strangers be partakers with you.
18 Umthombo wakho kawubusiswe; uthokoze ngomfazi wobutsha bakho;
Let your spring be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of your youth:
19 impala ethandekayo kakhulu, legogo elibukekayo; amabele akhe kawakusuthise sonke isikhathi, uzule othandweni lwakhe kokuphela.
a beloved doe and most pleasing fawn. Let her breasts inebriate you at all times. Be delighted continually by her love.
20 Kungani-ke, ndodana yami, uzule kowesifazana wemzini, ugone isifuba sowemzini?
Why are you seduced, my son, by a strange woman, and why are you kept warm by the bosom of another?
21 Ngoba indlela zomuntu ziphambi kwamehlo eNkosi; njalo iyalinganisa yonke imikhondo yakhe.
The Lord beholds the ways of man, and he considers all his steps.
22 Ezakhe iziphambeko zizabamba omubi, abanjwe zintambo zesono sakhe.
His own iniquities take hold of the impious, and he is bound by the cords of his own sins.
23 Yena uzakufa ngokungalaywa, lebukhulwini bobuthutha bakhe uzaduha.
He shall die, for he has not held to discipline. And by the multitude of his foolishness, he shall be deceived.
