< 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 law as the apple of thy 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 to 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 stranger [which] flattereth with 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 through my casement,
Kwenye dirisha la nyumba yangu nilitazama nje kupitia upenyo kwenye mwimo wa dirisha.
7 And beheld among the simple 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, in the black and dark night:
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 subtil of heart.
Ndipo huyo mwanamke akatoka kumlaki, hali amevaa kama kahaba akiwa na nia ya udanganyifu.
11 (She [is] loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
(Ni mwanamke mwenye makelele na mkaidi, miguu yake haitulii nyumbani;
12 Now [is she] without, now in the streets, 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 said to him,
Huyo mwanamke alimkumbatia kijana na kumbusu, na kwa uso usio na haya akamwambia:
14 [I have] peace-offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows.
“Nina sadaka za amani nyumbani; leo nimetimiza nadhiri zangu.
15 Therefore I came forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
Kwa hiyo nimetoka nje kukulaki; nimekutafuta na nimekupata!
16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved [works], with fine linen 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 the good-man [is] not at home, he is gone a long journey:
Mume wangu hayupo nyumbani; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, [and] will come home at the day appointed.
Amechukua mkoba uliojazwa fedha na hatakuwepo nyumbani karibuni.”
21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she impelled him.
Kwa maneno laini yule mwanamke akampotosha; alimshawishi kwa maneno yake laini.
22 He goeth after her quickly, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
Mara huyo kijana alimfuata yule mwanamke kama fahali aendaye machinjoni, kama kulungu aingiaye kwenye kitanzi,
23 Till a dart striketh through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it [is] for his life.
mpaka mshale umchome ini lake, kama ndege anayenaswa kwenye mtego, bila kujua itamgharimu maisha yake.
24 Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children, 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: yes, many strong [men] have been slain by her.
Aliowaangusha ni wengi; aliowachinja ni kundi kubwa.
27 Her house [is] the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. (Sheol )
Nyumba yake ni njia kuu iendayo kaburini, ielekeayo chini kwenye vyumba vya mauti. (Sheol )