Izaga 7
1 Ndodana yami, gcina amazwi ami, uzibekele imilayo yami.
My son, keep my words and store up my commands within yourself.
2 Gcina imilayo yami, uphile, lomthetho wami njengenhlamvu yamehlo akho.
Keep my commands and live and keep my instruction as the apple of your eye.
3 Ukubophele eminweni yakho, kubhale esibhebheni senhliziyo yakho.
Tie them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Uthi kunhlakanipho: Ungudadewethu; ubize ukuqedisisa ngokuthi yisihlobo sakho;
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,
5 ukuze kukugcine kumfazi wemzini, kowesifazana wemzini oyengayo ngamazwi akhe.
in order to keep yourself from the adulterous woman, from the immoral woman with her smooth words.
6 Ngoba ewindini lendlu yami, ngeminxibo yewindi ngalunguza phandle,
At the window of my house I was looking out through the lattice.
7 ngasengibona phakathi kwabangelalwazi, ngananzelela phakathi kwabatsha ijaha eliswele ingqondo,
I looked at the naive people, and I noticed among the young men a youth who had no sense.
8 lisedlula esitaladeni eceleni kwengonsi yakhe, linyathela endleleni yendlu yakhe,
That young man passed down the street near her corner, and he went toward her house.
9 kusihlwa, ngentambama yosuku, ebusuku obumnyama, lomnyama.
It was twilight, in the evening of the day, at the time of night and darkness.
10 Khangela-ke, owesifazana walihlangabeza, lesembatho sewule, elobuqili ngenhliziyo.
There a woman met him, dressed like a prostitute, with a false heart.
11 Lo wayelomsindo, eyisiqholo; inyawo zakhe kazihlali endlini yakhe.
She was loud and wayward; her feet did not stay at home.
12 Khathesi uphandle, abesesiba ezitaladeni, ecathama kuyo yonke ingonsi.
Now in the streets, then in the market place, and at every corner she waited in ambush.
13 Ngokunjalo walibamba, walanga, waqinisa ubuso bakhe, wathi kulo:
So she grabbed him and kissed him, with a strong face she said to him,
14 Imihlatshelo yeminikelo yokuthula ikimi; lamuhla sengibhadele izifungo zami.
“I made my peace offering today, I paid my vows,
15 Ngakho-ke ngiphumile ukukuhlangabeza, ngidingisise ubuso bakho; ngikutholile.
so came I out to meet you, to eagerly seek your face, and I have found you.
16 Ngendlele umbheda wami ngezendlalo, ngamalembu acolekileyo kakhulu alemibalabala avela eGibhithe.
I have spread coverings on my bed, colored linens from Egypt.
17 Ngifafazile umbheda wami ngemure, izinhlaba, lekinamoni.
I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Woza, sizidakise ngothando kuze kuse, sizithokozise ngothando olukhulu.
Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; let us take great pleasure in acts of love.
19 Ngoba indoda kayikho endlini yayo, ihambile uhambo khatshana.
For my husband is not at his house; he has gone on a long journey.
20 Ithethe isaka lemali esandleni sayo; ngosuku lwenyanga egcweleyo izakuza endlini yayo.
He took a bag of money with him; he will return on the day of the full moon.”
21 Walihuga ngobunengi bemfundiso yakhe, walivumisa ngenkulumo zakhe ezincengayo.
With much talk she turned him; with her smooth lips she misled him.
22 Lahle lamlandela njengenkabi isiya ekuhlatshweni, lanjengesiphukuphuku sisiya ekujezisweni esongweni lenqagala;
He went after her suddenly like an ox going to slaughter, like a deer caught in a trap,
23 uze umtshoko uhlabe isibindi salo, njengenyoni iphangisela esifwini, ingazi ukuthi simelene lempilo yayo.
until an arrow pierces through its liver. He was like a bird rushing into a snare. He did not know that it would cost his life.
24 Khathesi-ke, bantwana, ngizweni, lilalele amazwi omlomo wami.
Now, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Inhliziyo yakho kayingaphambukeli endleleni zakhe; ungaduhi emikhondweni yakhe.
May your heart not turn aside onto her paths; do not be led astray onto her paths.
26 Ngoba ubawisele phansi abanengi abalimeleyo, labo bonke ababuleweyo bakhe banengi.
She has caused many people to fall down pierced; her dead victims are very many.
