Izaga 9
1 Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
2 Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;
3 Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,
4 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,
5 Wozani, lidle okwesinkwa sami, linathe okwewayini engilixubanisileyo.
Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled.
6 Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.
7 Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.
8 Ungasoli isiklolodi, hlezi sikuzonde; sola ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuthanda.
Reprove not a scorner, 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.
Impart to a wise [man], and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous [man], and he will increase 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 intelligence.
11 Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
12 Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.
14 Ngoba uhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni, endaweni eziphakemeyo zomuzi,
And she sitteth at the entry of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
to call passers-by who go right on their ways:
16 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
17 Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.
