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 killed her cattle; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also set in order her table.
3 Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
She hath sent forth her maidens: she inviteth [her guests] upon the top of the highest places of the town.
4 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that is void of sense, 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 simplicity, and live; and go onward on the way of understanding.
7 Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
He that correcteth a scorner acquireth for himself abuse; and he that reproveth the wicked getteth himself a blemish.
8 Ungasoli isiklolodi, hlezi sikuzonde; sola ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuthanda.
Do not correct 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 the wise [instruction], and he will become yet wiser: impart knowledge to the righteous, and he will increase his information.
10 Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, lolwazi lwabangcwele luyikuqedisisa.
The commencement of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; and the knowledge of the Most Holy One is understanding.
11 Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
For through me shall thy days be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased unto thee.
12 Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
If thou art become wise, thou art wise for thyself; but if thou art a scorner, thou alone wilt have to bear it.”
13 Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
The woman of folly is noisy: she is simple, and knoweth not what [to do].
14 Ngoba uhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni, endaweni eziphakemeyo zomuzi,
And she sitteth at the door of her house, upon a chair in the high places of the town.
15 ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
To call the wayfarers who go straight forward on their paths.
16 Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; and as for him that is void of sense, she saith to him,
17 Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is pleasant.”
