Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
Inhlakanipho enkulu yakhe indlu yayo, ibaze insika zayo eziyisikhombisa.
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
Ihlabe okuhlatshwayo kwayo, ixubanise iwayini layo, futhi yalungisa itafula layo.
3 She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
Ithume incekukazi zayo, iyamemeza engqongeni zendawo eziphakemeyo zomuzi zisithi:
4 Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; oswele ingqondo, ithi kuye:
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
Wozani, lidle okwesinkwa sami, linathe okwewayini engilixubanisileyo.
6 Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
Yekelani abangelalwazi liphile, lihambe ngokuqonda ngendlela yokuqedisisa.
7 He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonor to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
Osola isiklolodi uzizuzela ihlazo, lokhuza okhohlakeleyo uzizuzela isici.
8 Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.
Ungasoli isiklolodi, hlezi sikuzonde; sola ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuthanda.
9 Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
Nika ohlakaniphileyo, njalo uzakuba lokhu ehlakanipha; fundisa olungileyo, njalo uzakwandisa ukufunda.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
Ukuyesaba iNkosi kuyikuqala kwenhlakanipho, lolwazi lwabangcwele luyikuqedisisa.
11 For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
Ngoba ngami insuku zakho zizakwandiswa, leminyaka yempilo yengezelelwe kuwe.
12 Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbors; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
Uba uhlakaniphile, uzakuba uzihlakaniphele; uba ukloloda, uzakuthwala wedwa.
13 A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
Owesifazana oyisithutha ulomsindo, kalangqondo, kazi lutho.
14 She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
Ngoba uhlala emnyango wendlu yakhe, esihlalweni, endaweni eziphakemeyo zomuzi,
15 calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
ukubiza abadlulayo ngendlela, abahamba beqondile emikhondweni yabo, esithi:
16 [saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
Loba ngubani ongelalwazi? Kaphendukele lapha; loswele ingqondo, uthi kuye:
17 Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
Amanzi ebiweyo amnandi, lesinkwa sensitha siyahlabusa.
