Izaga 5
1 Ndodana yami, lalela inhlakanipho yami, beka indlebe yakho ekuqedisiseni kwami,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding:
2 ukuze uqaphele ingqondo, lendebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 Ngoba indebe zowesifazana wemzini zithonta uluju, lomlomo wakhe ubutshelezi kulamafutha.
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth 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 go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
6 Hlezi ulinganise indlela yempilo, imikhondo yakhe iyazulazula, kananzeleli.
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it.
7 Ngakho-ke, bantwana, ngilalelani, lingaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
Now therefore, son, listen to me. Do not depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Dedisela indlela yakho khatshana laye, ungasondeli emnyango wendlu yakhe;
Remove your way far from her. Do not come near the door of her house,
9 hlezi unikele udumo lwakho kwabanye, leminyaka yakho kolesihluku;
lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the merciless;
10 hlezi abezizwe bazisuthise ngamandla akho, lemitshikatshika yakho ibe sendlini yowezizweni;
lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man's house.
11 njalo ububule ekupheleni kwakho, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekudliwe;
You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 njalo uthi: Ngikuzonde njani ukulaywa, lenhliziyo yami yadelela ukukhuzwa!
and say, "How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
13 Kangizwanga-ke ilizwi labafundisi bami; kangibekanga indlebe zami kwabangifundisayo!
neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me.
14 Ngaphosa ngaba ebubini bonke phakathi kwebandla lenhlangano.
I have come to the brink of utter ruin, in the midst of the gathered assembly."
15 Natha amanzi emgodini wakho, lemifula ephuma phakathi komthombo wakho.
Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.
16 Imithombo yakho ichitheke phandle, izifula zamanzi emidangeni.
Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?
17 Kakube ngokwakho wedwa, kungabi ngokwabezizweni kanye lawe.
Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.
18 Umthombo wakho kawubusiswe; uthokoze ngomfazi wobutsha bakho;
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 impala ethandekayo kakhulu, legogo elibukekayo; amabele akhe kawakusuthise sonke isikhathi, uzule othandweni lwakhe kokuphela.
A loving doe and a graceful deer—let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
20 Kungani-ke, ndodana yami, uzule kowesifazana wemzini, ugone isifuba sowemzini?
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?
21 Ngoba indlela zomuntu ziphambi kwamehlo eNkosi; njalo iyalinganisa yonke imikhondo yakhe.
For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah. He examines all his paths.
22 Ezakhe iziphambeko zizabamba omubi, abanjwe zintambo zesono sakhe.
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
23 Yena uzakufa ngokungalaywa, lebukhulwini bobuthutha bakhe uzaduha.
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
