Izaga 9
1 Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn out her seven pillars.
2 Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
She has killed her beasts. She has mingled her wine. She has also furnished her table.
3 Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
She has sent forth her maidens. She cries out upon the highest places of the city:
4 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
He who is simple, let him turn in here. As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 Wozani, lidle okwesinkwa sami, linathe okwewayini engilixubanisileyo.
Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
Forsake ye simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of understanding.
7 Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
He who corrects a scoffer gets himself reviling. And he who reproves a wicked man gets himself a bruise.
8 Ungasoli isiklolodi, hlezi sikuzonde; sola ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuthanda.
Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee. Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Nika ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuba lokhu ehlakanipha; fundisa olungileyo, njalo uzakwandisa ukufunda.
Give opportunity to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, lolwazi lwabangcwele luyikuqedisisa.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.
11 Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
If thou are wise, thou are wise for thyself. And if thou scoff, thou alone shall bear it.
13 Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
The foolish woman is clamorous, simple, and knows nothing.
14 Ngoba uhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni, endaweni eziphakemeyo zomuzi,
And she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
to call to those who pass by, who go right on their ways:
16 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
He who is simple, let him turn in here. And as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread in secret is pleasant.
