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.

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey; I have drunk my wine with my milk. Friends Eat, friends! Drink, yes, drink abundantly, beloved.

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 asleep, but my heart was awake. It is the voice of my beloved who knocks: “Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled; for my head is filled with dew, and my hair with the dampness of the night.”

3 Ngikhuphile isigqoko sami, ngingasigqoka njani? Ngigezile inyawo zami, ngingazingcolisa njani?

I have taken off my robe. Indeed, must I put it on? I have washed my feet. Indeed, must I soil them?

4 Isithandwa sami safaka isandla saso esikhaleni sesivalo, lemibilini yami yasiqubuleka.

My beloved thrust his hand in through the latch opening. My heart pounded for him.

5 Ngasukuma mina ukuvulela isithandwa sami; lezandla zami zathonta imure, leminwe yami imure egelezayo, ezibanjeni zekhiye.

I rose up to open for my beloved. My hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock.

6 Mina ngasivulela isithandwa sami, kodwa isithandwa sami sasitshibilike sedlula. Umphefumulo wami wehluleka ekukhulumeni kwaso. Ngasidinga, kodwa kangisitholanga, ngasibiza, kodwa kasingiphendulanga.

I opened to my beloved; but my beloved left, and had gone away. My heart went out when he spoke. I looked for him, but I didn’t find him. I called him, but he didn’t answer.

7 Abalindi ababebhodabhoda emzini bangifica, bangitshaya, bangilimaza; abalindi bemiduli bangithathela ijali yami.

The watchmen who go about the city found me. They beat me. They bruised me. The keepers of the walls took my cloak away from me.

8 Ngiyalifungisa, madodakazi eJerusalema, uba lithola othandekayo wami, lizamtshelani? Ukuthi ngiguliswa luthando.

I adjure you, daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am faint with love.

9 Isithandwa sakho simedlula ngani omunye othandekayo, wena omuhle phakathi kwabesifazana? Isithandwa sakho simedlula ngani omunye othandekayo ukuthi usifungise njalo?

How is your beloved better than another beloved, you fairest amongst women? How is your beloved better than another beloved, that you do so adjure us?

10 Isithandwa sami simhlophe sibomvana, inhlokonkulu phakathi kwenkulungwane ezilitshumi.

My beloved is white and ruddy. The best amongst ten thousand.

11 Ikhanda laso linjengegolide elicengeke kakhulu, inwele zaso eziphotheneyo ziyibulembu, zimnyama njengewabayi.

His head is like the purest gold. His hair is bushy, black as a raven.

12 Amehlo aso anjengamajuba ezifuleni zamanzi, agezwe ngochago, afakwe kakuhle.

His eyes are like doves beside the water brooks, washed with milk, mounted like jewels.

13 Izihlathi zaso zinjengombheda wamakha, njengemibundu yamakha akhupha iphunga elimnandi. Indebe zaso zinjengemiduze, zithonta imure egelezayo.

His cheeks are like a bed of spices with towers of perfumes. His lips are like lilies, dropping liquid myrrh.

14 Izandla zaso zinjengendandatho zegolide ezigcwele ibherule. Isisu saso sinjengophondo lwendlovu olukhanyayo, luhuqwe ngesafire.

His hands are like rings of gold set with beryl. His body is like ivory work overlaid with sapphires.

15 Imilenze yaso zinsika zelitshe elimhlophe zimiswe ezisekelweni zegolide elicwengekileyo. Ukukhangeleka kwaso kunjengeLebhanoni, elikhethelo njengemisedari.

His legs are like pillars of marble set on sockets of fine gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.

16 Umlomo waso umnandi kakhulu, yebo sonke siyathandeka kakhulu. Lesi yisithandwa sami, njalo lesi ngumngane wami, madodakazi eJerusalema.

His mouth is sweetness; yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, daughters of Jerusalem.