< Proverbs 7 >
1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
Mwanangu, shika maneno yangu na kuzihifadhi amri zangu ndani yako.
2 Keep my commandments and live, and my teaching as the apple of thine eye.
Shika amri zangu nawe utaishi; linda mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho lako.
3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart.
Yafunge katika vidole vyako; yaandike katika kibao cha moyo wako.
4 Say unto wisdom: 'Thou art my sister', and call understanding thy kinswoman;
Mwambie hekima, “Wewe ni dada yangu,” uite ufahamu jamaa yako;
5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the alien woman that maketh smooth her words.
watakuepusha na mwanamke mzinzi, kutokana na mwanamke mpotovu na maneno yake ya kubembeleza.
6 For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice;
Kwenye dirisha la nyumba yangu nilitazama nje kupitia upenyo kwenye mwimo wa dirisha.
7 And I beheld among the thoughtless ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
Niliona miongoni mwa wajinga, nikagundua miongoni mwa wanaume vijana, kijana asiye na akili.
8 Passing through the street near her corner, and he went the way to her house;
Alikuwa akishuka njiani karibu na pembe ya kwake, akielekea kwenye nyumba ya huyo mwanamke
9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the blackness of night and the darkness.
wakati wa machweo, jua likipungua nuru yake, giza la usiku lilipokuwa likiingia.
10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.
Ndipo huyo mwanamke akatoka kumlaki, hali amevaa kama kahaba akiwa na nia ya udanganyifu.
11 She is riotous and rebellious, her feet abide not in her house;
(Ni mwanamke mwenye makelele na mkaidi, miguu yake haitulii nyumbani;
12 Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, and lieth in wait at every corner.
mara kwenye barabara za mji, mara kwenye viwanja vikubwa, kwenye kila pembe huvizia.)
13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face she said unto him:
Huyo mwanamke alimkumbatia kijana na kumbusu, na kwa uso usio na haya akamwambia:
14 'Sacrifices of peace-offerings were due from me; this day have I paid my vows.
“Nina sadaka za amani nyumbani; leo nimetimiza nadhiri zangu.
15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
Kwa hiyo nimetoka nje kukulaki; nimekutafuta na nimekupata!
16 I have decked my couch with coverlets, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.
Nimetandika kitanda changu kwa kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
Nimetia manukato kitanda changu kwa manemane, udi na mdalasini.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; let us solace ourselves with loves.
Njoo, tuzame katika mapenzi mpaka asubuhi; tujifurahishe wenyewe kwa mapenzi!
19 For my husband is not at home, he is gone a long journey;
Mume wangu hayupo nyumbani; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
20 He hath taken the bag of money with him; he will come home at the full moon.'
Amechukua mkoba uliojazwa fedha na hatakuwepo nyumbani karibuni.”
21 With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield, with the blandishment of her lips she enticeth him away.
Kwa maneno laini yule mwanamke akampotosha; alimshawishi kwa maneno yake laini.
22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox that goeth to the slaughter, or as one in fetters to the correction of the fool;
Mara huyo kijana alimfuata yule mwanamke kama fahali aendaye machinjoni, kama kulungu aingiaye kwenye kitanzi,
23 Till an arrow strike through his liver; as a bird hasteneth to the snare — and knoweth not that it is at the cost of his life.
mpaka mshale umchome ini lake, kama ndege anayenaswa kwenye mtego, bila kujua itamgharimu maisha yake.
24 Now therefore, O ye children, hearken unto me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; sikilizeni kwa makini nisemalo.
25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
Usiruhusu moyo wako ugeukie njia za huyo mwanamke, wala usitangetange katika mapito yake.
26 For she hath cast down many wounded; yea, a mighty host are all her slain.
Aliowaangusha ni wengi; aliowachinja ni kundi kubwa.
27 Her house is the way to the nether-world, going down to the chambers of death. (Sheol )
Nyumba yake ni njia kuu iendayo kaburini, ielekeayo chini kwenye vyumba vya mauti. (Sheol )