Izaga 9
1 Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
Wisdom hath built herself a house, she hath hewn her out seven pillars.
2 Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
She hath slain her victims, mingled her wine, and set forth her table.
3 Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
She hath sent her maids to invite to the tower, and to the walls of the city:
4 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
Whosoever is a little one, let him come to me. And to the unwise she said:
5 Wozani, lidle okwesinkwa sami, linathe okwewayini engilixubanisileyo.
Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine which I have mingled for you.
6 Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
Forsake childishness, and live, and walk by the ways of prudence.
7 Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
He that teacheth a scorner, doth an injury to himself: and he that rebuketh a wicked man, getteth himself a blot.
8 Ungasoli isiklolodi, hlezi sikuzonde; sola ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuthanda.
Rebuke not a scorner lest he hate thee. Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Nika ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuba lokhu ehlakanipha; fundisa olungileyo, njalo uzakwandisa ukufunda.
Give an occasion to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him. Teach a just man, and he shall make haste to receive it.
10 Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, lolwazi lwabangcwele luyikuqedisisa.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is prudence.
11 Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
For by me shall thy days be multiplied, and years of life shall be added to thee.
12 Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
If thou be wise, thou shalt be so to thyself: and if a scorner, thou alone shalt bear the evil.
13 Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
A foolish woman and clamorous, and full of allurements, and knowing nothing at all,
14 Ngoba uhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni, endaweni eziphakemeyo zomuzi,
Sat at the door of her house, upon a seat, in a high place of the city,
15 ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
To call them that pass by the way, and go on their journey:
16 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
He that is a little one, let him turn to me. And to the fool she said:
17 Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
Stolen waters are sweeter, and hid den bread is more pleasant.
