Izaga 9
1 Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
2 Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
She hath prepared her meat, she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3 Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
She hath sent forth her maidens, she calleth, upon the highest places of the city:
4 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
'Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:
5 Wozani, lidle okwesinkwa sami, linathe okwewayini engilixubanisileyo.
'Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
Forsake all thoughtlessness, and live; and walk in the way of understanding.
7 Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
He that correcteth a scorner getteth to himself shame, and he that reproveth a wicked man, it becometh unto him 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.
Give 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 the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the All-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 art wise, thou art wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.'
13 Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
The woman Folly is riotous; she is thoughtless, and knoweth nothing.
14 Ngoba uhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni, endaweni eziphakemeyo zomuzi,
And she sitteth 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 them that pass by, who go right on their ways:
16 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
'Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; and as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:
17 Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.'
