Ingoma Yezingoma 5
1 Sengingenile esivandeni sami, dadewethu, mlobokazi, sengikhe imure yami lamakha ami, ngidle uhlanga loluju lwami kanye loluju lwami, nginathe iwayini lami lochago lwami. Dlanini, bangane, linathe, linathe kakhulu, bathandekayo.
My bride, [you who are dearer to me than] my sister, I have come [to cuddle up to you] [MET, EUP]; [it will be as though] I will be gathering myrrh with my other spices, and eating my honey and my honeycomb, and drinking my wine and my milk. You two who love each other, enjoy your lovemaking; enjoy all that you want to.
2 Ngilele, kodwa inhliziyo yami iphapheme. Ilizwi lesithandwa sami liqoqoda, lisithi: Ngivulela, dadewethu, mthandwa wami, juba lami, opheleleyo wami, ngoba ikhanda lami ligcwele amazolo, inwele zami eziphotheneyo amathonsi ebusuku.
I was partially asleep, but my mind was [still] awake. Then I heard the one who loves me knocking [at the door]. [He said], “My darling, [you who are dearer to me than] my sister, my dear friend, my perfect one, my dove [MET], open the door for me! My hair is wet from the dew, from the mist [that has fallen during] the night.”
3 Ngikhuphile isigqoko sami, ngingasigqoka njani? Ngigezile inyawo zami, ngingazingcolisa njani?
[But] I had already taken off my robe; I did not [RHQ] want to put it on again [to open the door]. I had [already] washed my feet; I did not [RHQ] want them to become dirty again.
4 Isithandwa sami safaka isandla saso esikhaleni sesivalo, lemibilini yami yasiqubuleka.
The one who loves me put his hand through the opening [in the wall], and I was thrilled [that he was there].
5 Ngasukuma mina ukuvulela isithandwa sami; lezandla zami zathonta imure, leminwe yami imure egelezayo, ezibanjeni zekhiye.
I got up to open [the door] for the one who loves me, [but first I put a lot of] myrrh on my hands. The myrrh was dripping from my fingers while I unlatched the bolt.
6 Mina ngasivulela isithandwa sami, kodwa isithandwa sami sasitshibilike sedlula. Umphefumulo wami wehluleka ekukhulumeni kwaso. Ngasidinga, kodwa kangisitholanga, ngasibiza, kodwa kasingiphendulanga.
I opened [the door] for the man who loves me, but he had left. He had turned away and was gone! I was very disappointed [IDM]; I searched for him, but I could not find him. I called him, but he did not answer.
7 Abalindi ababebhodabhoda emzini bangifica, bangitshaya, bangilimaza; abalindi bemiduli bangithathela ijali yami.
The city watchmen saw me while they were walking around the city. They beat me and wounded me [because they thought I must be a prostitute]; those men who were guarding the city walls took my robe.
8 Ngiyalifungisa, madodakazi eJerusalema, uba lithola othandekayo wami, lizamtshelani? Ukuthi ngiguliswa luthando.
You young women of Jerusalem, I plead with you, if you see the man who loves me, tell him [DOU] that I am very disappointed that we did not make love.
9 Isithandwa sakho simedlula ngani omunye othandekayo, wena omuhle phakathi kwabesifazana? Isithandwa sakho simedlula ngani omunye othandekayo ukuthi usifungise njalo?
You who are the (fairest/most beautiful) among women, why [do you think that] the one who loves you is better than other men? In what way is the man who loves you better than other men with the result that you ask us to tell him that?
10 Isithandwa sami simhlophe sibomvana, inhlokonkulu phakathi kwenkulungwane ezilitshumi.
The man who loves me is handsome and healthy, (outstanding among/better than) (10,000/an uncountable number of) [other men].
11 Ikhanda laso linjengegolide elicengeke kakhulu, inwele zaso eziphotheneyo ziyibulembu, zimnyama njengewabayi.
His head is [beautiful, like] [MET] purest gold; his hair is wavy and as black as [SIM] a raven/crow.
12 Amehlo aso anjengamajuba ezifuleni zamanzi, agezwe ngochago, afakwe kakuhle.
His eyes [are as gentle] as [SIM] doves along the streams; [the white parts of] his eyes are as white as [MET] milk, [with what resembles] jewels inlaid in them.
13 Izihlathi zaso zinjengombheda wamakha, njengemibundu yamakha akhupha iphunga elimnandi. Indebe zaso zinjengemiduze, zithonta imure egelezayo.
His cheeks are like [SIM] a garden full of spice trees that produce [sweet-smelling] perfume. His lips are [like] [SIM] lilies that have myrrh/perfume dripping from them.
14 Izandla zaso zinjengendandatho zegolide ezigcwele ibherule. Isisu saso sinjengophondo lwendlovu olukhanyayo, luhuqwe ngesafire.
His arms are like [MET] gold bars/rods that are decorated with precious stones/jewels. His body is like [SIM] [a column/pillar of] ivory that is decorated with (sapphires/valuable [blue] stones).
15 Imilenze yaso zinsika zelitshe elimhlophe zimiswe ezisekelweni zegolide elicwengekileyo. Ukukhangeleka kwaso kunjengeLebhanoni, elikhethelo njengemisedari.
His legs are [like] [MET] pillars of marble that are set in bases made of pure gold. He is [majestic, like the mountains of] [SIM] Lebanon, as delightful/beautiful as [SIM] cedar [trees].
16 Umlomo waso umnandi kakhulu, yebo sonke siyathandeka kakhulu. Lesi yisithandwa sami, njalo lesi ngumngane wami, madodakazi eJerusalema.
His kisses [MTY] are extremely sweet; he is very handsome. You young women of Jerusalem, all that tells you why the one who loves me and who is my friend [is better than other men].
