Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, gcina amazwi ami, uzibekele imilayo yami.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my precepts with thee. Son,
2 Gcina imilayo yami, uphile, lomthetho wami njengenhlamvu yamehlo akho.
Keep my commandments, and thou shalt live: and my law as the apple of thy eye:
3 Ukubophele eminweni yakho, kubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Bind it upon thy fingers, write it upon the tables of thy heart.
4 Uthi kunhlakanipho: Ungudadewethu; ubize ukuqedisisa ngokuthi yisihlobo sakho;
Say to wisdom: Thou art my sister: and call prudence thy friend,
5 ukuze kukugcine kumfazi wemzini, kowesifazana wemzini oyengayo ngamazwi akhe.
That she may keep thee from the woman that is not thine, and from the stranger who sweeteneth her words.
6 Ngoba ewindini lendlu yami, ngeminxibo yewindi ngalunguza phandle,
For I look out of the window of my house through the lattice,
7 ngasengibona phakathi kwabangelalwazi, ngananzelela phakathi kwabatsha ijaha eliswele ingqondo,
And I see little ones, I behold a foolish young man,
8 lisedlula esitaladeni eceleni kwengonsi yakhe, linyathela endleleni yendlu yakhe,
Who passeth through the street by the corner, and goeth nigh the way of her house.
9 kusihlwa, ngentambama yosuku, ebusuku obumnyama, lomnyama.
In the dark, when it grows late, in the darkness and obscurity of the night,
10 Khangela-ke, owesifazana walihlangabeza, lesembatho sewule, elobuqili ngenhliziyo.
And behold a woman meeteth him in harlot’s attire prepared to deceive souls; talkative and wandering,
11 Lo wayelomsindo, eyisiqholo; inyawo zakhe kazihlali endlini yakhe.
Not bearing to be quiet, not able to abide still at home,
12 Khathesi uphandle, abesesiba ezitaladeni, ecathama kuyo yonke ingonsi.
Now abroad, now in the streets, now lying in wait near the corners.
13 Ngokunjalo walibamba, walanga, waqinisa ubuso bakhe, wathi kulo:
And catching the young man, she kisseth him, and with an impudent face, flattereth, saying:
14 Imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula ikimi; lamuhla sengibhadele izifungo zami.
I vowed victims for prosperity, this day I have paid my vows.
15 Ngakho-ke ngiphumile ukukuhlangabeza, ngidingisise ubuso bakho; ngikutholile.
Therefore I am come out to meet thee, desirous to see thee, and I have found thee.
16 Ngendlele umbheda wami ngezendlalo, ngamalembu acolekileyo kakhulu alemibalabala avela eGibhithe.
I have woven my bed with cords, I have covered it with painted tapestry, brought from Egypt.
17 Ngifafazile umbheda wami ngemure, izinhlaba, lekinamoni.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Woza, sizidakise ngothando kuze kuse, sizithokozise ngothando olukhulu.
Come, let us be inebriated with the breasts, and let us enjoy the desired embraces, till the day appear.
19 Ngoba indoda kayikho endlini yayo, ihambile uhambo khatshana.
For my husband is not at home, he is gone a very long journey.
20 Ithethe isaka lemali esandleni sayo; ngosuku lwenyanga egcweleyo izakuza endlini yayo.
He took with him a bag of money: he mill return home the day of the full moon.
21 Walihuga ngobunengi bemfundiso yakhe, walivumisa ngenkulumo zakhe ezincengayo.
She entangled him with many words, and drew him away with the flattery of her lips.
22 Lahle lamlandela njengenkabi isiya ekuhlatshweni, lanjengesiphukuphuku sisiya ekujezisweni esongweni lenqagala;
Immediately he followeth her as an ox led to be a victim, and as a lamb playing the wanton, and not knowing that he is drawn like a fool to bonds,
23 uze umtshoko uhlabe isibindi salo, njengenyoni iphangisela esifwini, ingazi ukuthi simelene lempilo yayo.
Till the arrow pierce his liver: as if a bird should make haste to the snare, and knoweth not that his life is in danger.
24 Khathesi-ke, bantwana, ngizweni, lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
Now therefore, my son, hear me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Inhliziyo yakho kayingaphambukeli endleleni zakhe; ungaduhi emikhondweni yakhe.
Let not thy mind be drawn away in her ways: neither be thou deceived with her paths.
26 Ngoba ubawisele phansi abanengi abalimeleyo, labo bonke ababuleweyo bakhe banengi.
For she hath cast down many wounded, and the strongest have been slain by her.
