Izaga 5
1 Ndodana yami, lalela inhlakanipho yami, beka indlebe yakho ekuqedisiseni kwami,
My son, attend unto my wisdom; incline thine ear to my understanding;
2 ukuze uqaphele ingqondo, lendebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
That thou mayest preserve discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
3 Ngoba indebe zowesifazana wemzini zithonta uluju, lomlomo wakhe ubutshelezi kulamafutha.
For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil;
4 Kodwa ukucina kwakhe kuyababa njengomhlonyane, kubukhali njengenkemba esika nhlangothi mbili.
But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on the nether-world; (Sheol h7585)
6 Hlezi ulinganise indlela yempilo, imikhondo yakhe iyazulazula, kananzeleli.
Lest she should walk the even path of life, her ways wander, but she knoweth it not.
7 Ngakho-ke, bantwana, ngilalelani, lingaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
Now therefore, O ye children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
8 Dedisela indlela yakho khatshana laye, ungasondeli emnyango wendlu yakhe;
Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house;
9 hlezi unikele udumo lwakho kwabanye, leminyaka yakho kolesihluku;
Lest thou give thy vigour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel;
10 hlezi abezizwe bazisuthise ngamandla akho, lemitshikatshika yakho ibe sendlini yowezizweni;
Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in the house of an alien;
11 njalo ububule ekupheleni kwakho, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekudliwe;
And thou moan, when thine end cometh, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
12 njalo uthi: Ngikuzonde njani ukulaywa, lenhliziyo yami yadelela ukukhuzwa!
And say: 'How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
13 Kangizwanga-ke ilizwi labafundisi bami; kangibekanga indlebe zami kwabangifundisayo!
Neither have I hearkened to the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
14 Ngaphosa ngaba ebubini bonke phakathi kwebandla lenhlangano.
I was well nigh in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.'
15 Natha amanzi emgodini wakho, lemifula ephuma phakathi komthombo wakho.
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
16 Imithombo yakho ichitheke phandle, izifula zamanzi emidangeni.
Let thy springs be dispersed abroad, and courses of water in the streets.
17 Kakube ngokwakho wedwa, kungabi ngokwabezizweni kanye lawe.
Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
18 Umthombo wakho kawubusiswe; uthokoze ngomfazi wobutsha bakho;
Let thy fountain be blessed; and have joy of the wife of thy youth.
19 impala ethandekayo kakhulu, legogo elibukekayo; amabele akhe kawakusuthise sonke isikhathi, uzule othandweni lwakhe kokuphela.
A lovely hind and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; with her love be thou ravished always.
20 Kungani-ke, ndodana yami, uzule kowesifazana wemzini, ugone isifuba sowemzini?
Why then wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of an alien?
21 Ngoba indlela zomuntu ziphambi kwamehlo eNkosi; njalo iyalinganisa yonke imikhondo yakhe.
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He maketh even all his paths.
22 Ezakhe iziphambeko zizabamba omubi, abanjwe zintambo zesono sakhe.
His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
23 Yena uzakufa ngokungalaywa, lebukhulwini bobuthutha bakhe uzaduha.
He shall die for lack of instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall reel.
