Izaga 5
1 Ndodana yami, lalela inhlakanipho yami, beka indlebe yakho ekuqedisiseni kwami,
My son, to my wisdom, attend, and, to mine understanding, incline thou thine ear:
2 ukuze uqaphele ingqondo, lendebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
That thou mayest preserve discretion, —and, as for knowledge, that thy lips may guard it.
3 Ngoba indebe zowesifazana wemzini zithonta uluju, lomlomo wakhe ubutshelezi kulamafutha.
For, with sweet droppings, drip the lips of her that is a stranger, and, smoother than oil, is her mouth;
4 Kodwa ukucina kwakhe kuyababa njengomhlonyane, kubukhali njengenkemba esika nhlangothi mbili.
But, the latter end of her, is bitter as wormwood, sharp, as a two-edged sword!
Her feet, are going down to death, —on hades, will her steps take firm hold. (Sheol h7585)
6 Hlezi ulinganise indlela yempilo, imikhondo yakhe iyazulazula, kananzeleli.
Lest, the path of life, she should ponder, her tracks have wandered she knoweth not [whither].
7 Ngakho-ke, bantwana, ngilalelani, lingaphambuki emazwini omlomo wami.
Now, therefore, ye sons, hearken unto me, and do not turn away from the sayings of my mouth.
8 Dedisela indlela yakho khatshana laye, ungasondeli emnyango wendlu yakhe;
Keep far from her thy way, and do not go near the opening of her house:
9 hlezi unikele udumo lwakho kwabanye, leminyaka yakho kolesihluku;
Lest thou give, to other men, thy vigour, and thy years, to him that is cruel:
10 hlezi abezizwe bazisuthise ngamandla akho, lemitshikatshika yakho ibe sendlini yowezizweni;
Lest strange men, be well fed, by thy strength, and, thy toils, be in the house of the alien.
11 njalo ububule ekupheleni kwakho, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekudliwe;
So shalt thou grieve in thy latter end, in the failing of thy flesh and of thy healthy condition;
12 njalo uthi: Ngikuzonde njani ukulaywa, lenhliziyo yami yadelela ukukhuzwa!
And thou shalt say—How I hated correction! and, reproof, my heart disdained;
13 Kangizwanga-ke ilizwi labafundisi bami; kangibekanga indlebe zami kwabangifundisayo!
Neither hearkened I to the voice of my teachers, nor, to my instructors, inclined I mine ear:
14 Ngaphosa ngaba ebubini bonke phakathi kwebandla lenhlangano.
Soon was I in all evil, in the midst of convocation and assembly.
15 Natha amanzi emgodini wakho, lemifula ephuma phakathi komthombo wakho.
Drink thou water out of thine own cistern, and flowing streams out of the midst of thine own well.
16 Imithombo yakho ichitheke phandle, izifula zamanzi emidangeni.
Let not thy fountains, flow over, abroad, in the streets, dividings of waters:
17 Kakube ngokwakho wedwa, kungabi ngokwabezizweni kanye lawe.
Let them be for thyself, alone, and not for strangers with thee.
18 Umthombo wakho kawubusiswe; uthokoze ngomfazi wobutsha bakho;
Let thy well-spring be blessed, —and get thy joy from the wife of thy youth: —
19 impala ethandekayo kakhulu, legogo elibukekayo; amabele akhe kawakusuthise sonke isikhathi, uzule othandweni lwakhe kokuphela.
A loving hind! a graceful doe! let, her bosom, content thee at all times, and, in her love, mayst thou stray evermore.
20 Kungani-ke, ndodana yami, uzule kowesifazana wemzini, ugone isifuba sowemzini?
Wherefore, then, shouldst thou stray, my son, with a strange woman? or embrace the bosom of a woman unknown?
21 Ngoba indlela zomuntu ziphambi kwamehlo eNkosi; njalo iyalinganisa yonke imikhondo yakhe.
For, before the eyes of Yahweh, are the ways of a man, —and, all his tracks, doth he consider:
22 Ezakhe iziphambeko zizabamba omubi, abanjwe zintambo zesono sakhe.
His own iniquities, shall entrap him with the lawless, and, by the cords of his own sin, shall he be seized.
23 Yena uzakufa ngokungalaywa, lebukhulwini bobuthutha bakhe uzaduha.
He, shall die, for lack of discipline, and, by the abounding of his perversity, shall he be lost.
