< Proverbs 2 >
1 My son, if thou receivest my words, and layest up my commandments with thee,
Mwanangu, kama ukiyapokea maneno yangu na kuzitunza amri zangu,
2 so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom [and] thou apply thy heart to understanding;
usikilize hekima na utaelekeza moyo wako katika ufahamu.
3 yea, if thou criest after discernment [and] liftest up thy voice to understanding;
kama utalilia ufahamu na kupaza sauti yako kwa ajili ya ufahamu,
4 if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasures:
kama utautafuta kama fedha na kupekua ufahamu kama unatafuta hazina iliyojificha,
5 then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, and find the knowledge of God.
ndipo utakapofahamu hofu ya Yehova na utapata maarifa ya Mungu.
6 For Jehovah giveth wisdom; out of his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.
Kwa kuwa Yohova hutoa hekima, katika kinywa chake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu.
7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; [he] is a shield to them that walk in integrity;
Yeye huhifadhi sauti ya hekima kwa wale wampendezao, yeye ni ngao kwa wale waendao katika uadilifu,
8 guarding the paths of just judgment and keeping the way of his godly ones.
huongoza katika njia za haki na atalinda njia ya waaminifu kwake.
9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment and equity: every good path.
Ndipo utakapoelewa wema, haki, usawa na kila njia njema.
10 When wisdom entereth into thy heart and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul,
Maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako na maarifa yataipendeza nafsi yako.
11 discretion shall keep thee, understanding shall preserve thee:
Busara itakulinda, ufahamu utakuongoza.
12 To deliver thee from the way of evil, from the man that speaketh froward things;
Vitakuokoa kutoka katika njia ya uovu, kutoka kwa wale waongeao mambo potovu.
13 [from those] who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
Ambao huziacha njia za wema na kutembea katika njia za giza.
14 who rejoice to do evil, [and] delight in the frowardness of evil;
Hufurahia wanapotenda maovu na hupendezwa katika upotovu.
15 whose paths are crooked, and who are perverted in their course:
Hufuata njia za udanganyifu na kwa kutumia ghilba huficha mapito yao.
16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, from the stranger who flattereth with her words;
Busara na hekima zitakuokoa kutoka kwa mwanamke malaya, kutoka kwa mwanamke anayetafuta visa na mwenye maneno ya kubembeleza.
17 who forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God;
Yeye humwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kusahau agano la Mungu wake.
18 — for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead;
Maana nyumba yake huinama na kufa na mapito yake yatakupeleka kwa wale walioko kaburini.
19 none that go unto her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life:
Wote waiendeao njia yake hawatarudi tena na wala hawataziona njia za uzima.
20 — that thou mayest walk in the way of the good, and keep the paths of the righteous.
kwa hiyo utatembea katika njia ya watu wema na kufuata njia za wale watendao mema.
21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it;
Kwa wale watendao mema watafanya makazi yao katika nchi, na wale wenye uadilifu watadumu katika nchi.
22 but the wicked shall be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful shall be plucked up out of it.
Lakini waovu wataondolewa katika nchi na wale wasioamini wataondolewa katika nchi.