1 My child, remember what I say and never forget what I tell you to do. 2 Do what I say, and you will live. Be as careful to follow my teaching as you are to protect your eyes. 3 Keep my teaching with you all the time; write it on your heart. 4 Treat wisdom as your sister, and insight as your closest friend. 5 They will keep you away from other men's wives, from women with seductive words.
The Immoral Woman
6 Once I was looking out the window of my house, 7 and I saw many inexperienced young men, but noticed one foolish fellow in particular. 8 He was walking along the street near the corner where a certain woman lived. He was passing near her house 9 in the evening after it was dark. 10 And then she met him; she was dressed like a prostitute and was making plans. 11 She was a bold and shameless woman who always walked the streets 12 or stood waiting at a corner, sometimes in the streets, sometimes in the marketplace. 13 She threw her arms around the young man, kissed him, looked him straight in the eye, and said, 14 “I made my offerings today and have the meat from the sacrifices. 15 So I came out looking for you. I wanted to find you, and here you are! 16 I've covered my bed with sheets of colored linen from Egypt. 17 I've perfumed it with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come on! Let's make love all night long. We'll be happy in each other's arms. 19 My husband isn't at home. He's on a long trip. 20 He took plenty of money with him and won't be back for two weeks.” 21 So she tempted him with her charms, and he gave in to her smooth talk. 22 Suddenly he was going with her like an ox on the way to be slaughtered, like a deer prancing into a trap 23 where an arrow would pierce its heart. He was like a bird going into a net—he did not know that his life was in danger.
24 Now then, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to what I say. 25 Do not let such a woman win your heart; don't go wandering after her. 26 She has been the ruin of many men and caused the death of too many to count. 27 If you go to her house, you are on the way to the world of the dead. It is a shortcut to death.
Jenjedzo ngekwe phombgwekadzi
1 Nkololo wangu, londolodza matama angu,
kakale utjengete milayo yangu,
2 londolodza milayo yangu utjile
ubhate zwidiyo zwangu ne ludo gugo gose,
3 uzwisungilile mu zwinyala zwizo,
uzwikwale mu moyo uwo.
4 Uti ku butjenjedu, “U hazwadzi yangu,”
udane hwisiso nzwalani wepa moyo,
5 kuti ubakililike mu bamba,
fukula inoleba matama anosodzoloka.
6 Ngoti ndakashozhela
nge fesitere le ng'umba yangu,
7 ngono ndakabona pakati kwe basakatjenjela,
abona we tjilengwe pakati kwe bazhuzha,
8 e nyenyeledza ali mu zila epinda pa ndzibo uwe
etola zila inoyenda ku ng'umba ye fukula
9 kuli madekwana kwatjibhata,
mu zhalima le busiku.
10 Ipapo tjinyolotjo nkadzi kanshanganidza,
akaambala se fukula, wakatjenjelela ntome.
11 Nkadzi iwoyu unolebanya,
unotjutjula aatogala pasi,
12 unobe mu dzizila kabe mu matengeselo,
unolalila mu ndzibo mmwe ne mwe.
13 Unontshakatila e mputa,
unolebeleka akasima moyo eti kunli,
14 “Ndakadusa tjipo tje mbakisano
ngono nasi ndalipa zwandakagadzabwe,
15 ndizo ngwenu ndazha kukushanganidza,
ndakushaka ngono ndakuwana.
16 Ndawala bulawo gwangu ne matyila mabuya,
ana mibala yakanaka e jila le Egipiti,
17 ndafafayidza bulawo gwangu nge mafuta anonuhwilila,
e mira, gonde ne sinamoni.
18 Buya, tishathisane nge ludo kuswikila mangwanana,
ngatizwishathise nge ludo.
19 Ngobe nlume wangu aapo mu nzi,
wakatola gwendo bulefu,
20 wakayenda ne hwomo ye mari,
unowobuya tjose mwedzi uli ntjena”
21 Nge ndebo iye yakanaka unonkwekweredza,
ne matama awe anosodzoloka wakambhata.
22 Tjinyolotjo nzhuzha unonsala shule,
se ng'ombe ikwebegwa kunobulawa,
kene se phuka yabhatshigwa,
23 kuswikila thumo liipubula mabula,
se nyuni iwila mu dati,
aatoziba kuti unowolipa ne butjilo gugwe.
24 Ndizo ngwenu, imwi bakololo, mundibhulutane,
kakale muteedze kwazo matama e nlomo wangu.
25 Musi letje mimoyo yenyu ikapambukila ku zila dzidze,
musitongo lashikila mu zijana dzidze,
26 ngobe banjinji baakaliga, baakabulaya abana mbalo.
27 Ng'umba iye i zila inoyenda ka Satani,
idelukila ku ng'umba dze lufu.