< Proverbs 5 >

1 My son, attend unto my wisdom; incline thine ear to my understanding;
Ndodana yami, nanzelela ukuhlakanipha kwami, ulalele kuhle amazwi ami alombono,
2 That thou mayest preserve discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
ukuze uhlale ukwazi ukukhetha okuqondileyo lokuze izindebe zakho zigcine ulwazi.
3 For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, and her mouth is smoother than oil;
Phela izindebe zesifebekazi zithonta uluju, lenkulumo yaso iyatshelela kulamafutha;
4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
kodwa ekucineni iyababa ingathi yinyongo, ibukhali njengenkemba esika nxa zombili.
5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on the nether-world; (Sheol h7585)
Inyawo zaso zehlela ekufeni; izinyathelo zaso ziqonda nta elibeni. (Sheol h7585)
6 Lest she should walk the even path of life, her ways wander, but she knoweth it not.
Kasikhathali ukuthi kuphilwa njani; izindlela zaso ziyazombeleza, kodwa kasikuboni lokho.
7 Now therefore, O ye children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
Ngalokho-ke, madodana ami, ngilalelani; lingaphambuki kulokho engikukhulumayo.
8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house;
Hambani ngendlela ekhatshana kwaso, lingasondeli emnyango wendlu yaso,
9 Lest thou give thy vigour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel;
funa unikele kwabanye amandla akho wonke lobudala bakho kulowo olesihluku,
10 Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in the house of an alien;
funa abemzini bazitike ngenotho yakho lokusebenza kwakho kunothise umuzi wenye indoda.
11 And thou moan, when thine end cometh, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
Ekupheleni kokuphila kwakho uzabubula, lapho inyama yakho lomzimba wakho sekugugile.
12 And say: 'How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
Uzakuthi, “Uthi ngangikuzonda yini ukulaywa! Inhliziyo yami yayikuzonda njani ukuqondiswa!
13 Neither have I hearkened to the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
Ngangingafuni ukulalela abafundisi bami kumbe ukulalela abeluleki bami.
14 I was well nigh in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.'
Ngacina sengisenkingeni enkulu ngiphakathi kwabantu bakaNkulunkulu.”
15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
Natha amanzi kowakho umgqomo, amanzi agelezayo kowakho umthombo.
16 Let thy springs be dispersed abroad, and courses of water in the streets.
Kambe imifudlana yakho ingayekelwa igelezela emigwaqweni, lezifula zakho zamanzi zigelezele ezinkundleni zabantu na?
17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
Kazibe ngezakho wena wedwa, ungazabelani labafokazana nje.
18 Let thy fountain be blessed; and have joy of the wife of thy youth.
Sengathi ungabusiswa umthombo wakho njalo sengathi ungathokoza ngomfazi wobutsha bakho.
19 A lovely hind and a graceful doe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; with her love be thou ravished always.
Oyimpalakazi ethandekayo, imbabala ebutshelezi amabele akhe sengathi angakusuthisa lanini, nini lanini ukhangwe luthando lwakhe.
20 Why then wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of an alien?
Kungani ndodana yami, uthunjwa yisifebekazi? Kungani ugona iqolo lomfazi wenye indoda?
21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He maketh even all his paths.
Phela izindlela zomuntu zisobala kuThixo, uyazihlola zonke izindlela zakhe.
22 His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
Izenzo ezimbi zomuntu omubi ziyamthiya; izibopho zesono sakhe zimuthe nko.
23 He shall die for lack of instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall reel.
Uzabhubha ngoba engalayeki, elahlekiswa yibuphukuphuku bakhe.

< Proverbs 5 >