Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, gcina amazwi ami, uzibekele imilayo yami.
[My] son, keep my words, and hide with you my commandments. [My] son, honour the Lord, and you shall be strong; and fear none but him:
2 Gcina imilayo yami, uphile, lomthetho wami njengenhlamvu yamehlo akho.
keep my commandments, and you shall live; and [keep] my words as the pupils of [your] eyes.
3 Ukubophele eminweni yakho, kubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
And bind them on your fingers, and write [them] on the table of your heart.
4 Uthi kunhlakanipho: Ungudadewethu; ubize ukuqedisisa ngokuthi yisihlobo sakho;
Say that wisdom is your sister, and gain prudence as an acquaintance for yourself;
5 ukuze kukugcine kumfazi wemzini, kowesifazana wemzini oyengayo ngamazwi akhe.
that she may keep you from the strange and wicked woman, if she should assail you with flattering words.
6 Ngoba ewindini lendlu yami, ngeminxibo yewindi ngalunguza phandle,
For she looks from a window out of her house into the streets, at one whom she may see of the senseless ones, a young man void of understanding,
7 ngasengibona phakathi kwabangelalwazi, ngananzelela phakathi kwabatsha ijaha eliswele ingqondo,
passing by the corner in the passages near her house,
8 lisedlula esitaladeni eceleni kwengonsi yakhe, linyathela endleleni yendlu yakhe,
and speaking, in the dark of the evening,
9 kusihlwa, ngentambama yosuku, ebusuku obumnyama, lomnyama.
when there happens [to be] the stillness of night and of darkness:
10 Khangela-ke, owesifazana walihlangabeza, lesembatho sewule, elobuqili ngenhliziyo.
and the woman meets him having the appearance of a harlot, that causes the hearts of young men to flutter.
11 Lo wayelomsindo, eyisiqholo; inyawo zakhe kazihlali endlini yakhe.
And she is fickle, and debauched, and her feet abide not at home.
12 Khathesi uphandle, abesesiba ezitaladeni, ecathama kuyo yonke ingonsi.
For at one time she wanders without, and at [another] time she lies in wait in the streets, at every corner.
13 Ngokunjalo walibamba, walanga, waqinisa ubuso bakhe, wathi kulo:
Then she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him,
14 Imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula ikimi; lamuhla sengibhadele izifungo zami.
I have a peace-offering; today I pay my vows:
15 Ngakho-ke ngiphumile ukukuhlangabeza, ngidingisise ubuso bakho; ngikutholile.
therefore I came forth to meet you, desiring your face; [and] I have found you.
16 Ngendlele umbheda wami ngezendlalo, ngamalembu acolekileyo kakhulu alemibalabala avela eGibhithe.
I have spread my bed with sheets, and I have covered it with double tapestry from Egypt.
17 Ngifafazile umbheda wami ngemure, izinhlaba, lekinamoni.
I have sprinkled my couch with saffron, and my house with cinnamon.
18 Woza, sizidakise ngothando kuze kuse, sizithokozise ngothando olukhulu.
Come, and let us enjoy love until the morning; come, and let us embrace in love.
19 Ngoba indoda kayikho endlini yayo, ihambile uhambo khatshana.
For my husband is not at home, but is gone on a long journey,
20 Ithethe isaka lemali esandleni sayo; ngosuku lwenyanga egcweleyo izakuza endlini yayo.
having taken in his hand a bundle of money: after many days he will return to his house.
21 Walihuga ngobunengi bemfundiso yakhe, walivumisa ngenkulumo zakhe ezincengayo.
So with much converse she prevailed on him to go astray, and with the snares of her lips forced him from [the right path].
22 Lahle lamlandela njengenkabi isiya ekuhlatshweni, lanjengesiphukuphuku sisiya ekujezisweni esongweni lenqagala;
And he followed her, being gently led on, and [that] as an ox is led to the slaughter, and as a dog to bonds, or as a hart shot in the liver with an arrow:
23 uze umtshoko uhlabe isibindi salo, njengenyoni iphangisela esifwini, ingazi ukuthi simelene lempilo yayo.
and he hastens as a bird into a snare, not knowing that he is running for [his] life.
24 Khathesi-ke, bantwana, ngizweni, lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
Now then, [my] son, listen to me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Inhliziyo yakho kayingaphambukeli endleleni zakhe; ungaduhi emikhondweni yakhe.
Let not your heart turn aside to her ways:
26 Ngoba ubawisele phansi abanengi abalimeleyo, labo bonke ababuleweyo bakhe banengi.
for she has wounded and cast down many, and those whom she has slain are innumerable.
