Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama utayakubali maneno yangu na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu ndani mwako,
My son, if thou will receive my words, and lay up my commandments with thee,
2 kutega sikio lako kwenye hekima na kuweka moyo wako katika ufahamu,
so as to incline thine ear to wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding,
3 na kama ukiita busara na kuita kwa sauti ufahamu,
yea, if thou cry after discernment, and lift up thy voice for understanding,
4 na kama utaitafuta kama fedha na kuitafuta sana kama hazina iliyofichwa,
if thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures,
5 ndipo utakapoelewa kumcha Bwana na kupata maarifa ya Mungu.
then thou shall understand the fear of Jehovah, and find the knowledge of God.
6 Kwa maana Bwana hutoa hekima, na kinywani mwake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu.
For Jehovah gives wisdom. Out of his mouth is knowledge and understanding.
7 Anahifadhi ushindi kwa ajili ya mwadilifu, yeye ni ngao kwa wale wasio na lawama,
He lays up sound wisdom for the upright, a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 kwa kuwa hulinda mwenendo wa mwenye haki na kuhifadhi njia ya waaminifu wake.
that he may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of his sanctified.
9 Ndipo utafahamu lipi lililo kweli na haki na sawa: yaani kila njia nzuri.
Then thou shall understand righteousness and justice and equity, yea, every good path.
10 Kwa maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako, nayo maarifa yataifurahisha nafsi yako.
For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant to thy soul,
11 Busara itakuhifadhi na ufahamu utakulinda.
discretion shall watch over thee, understanding shall keep thee,
12 Hekima itakuokoa kutoka njia za waovu, kutoka kwa watu ambao maneno yao yamepotoka,
to deliver thee from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things,
13 wale waachao mapito yaliyonyooka wakatembea katika njia za giza,
who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 wale wapendao kutenda mabaya na kufurahia upotovu wa ubaya,
who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 ambao mapito yao yamepotoka na ambao ni wapotovu katika njia zao.
who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths,
16 Itakuokoa pia kutokana na mwanamke kahaba, kutokana na mke aliyepotoka mwenye maneno ya kushawishi kutenda ubaya,
to deliver thee from the interloping woman, even from the stranger who flatters with her words,
17 aliyemwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kupuuza agano alilofanya mbele ya Mungu.
who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God
18 Kwa maana nyumba yake huelekea kwenye kifo na mapito yake kwenye roho za waliokufa.
(for her house inclines to death, and her paths to the dead;
19 Hakuna yeyote aendaye kwake akarudi, au kufikia mapito ya uzima.
none who go to her return again, nor do they attain to the paths of life),
20 Hivyo utatembea katika njia za watu wema na kushikamana na mapito ya wenye haki.
that thou may walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
21 Kwa maana wanyofu wataishi katika nchi, nao wasio na lawama watabakia ndani yake.
For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
22 Bali waovu watakatiliwa mbali kutoka nchi, nao wasio waaminifu watangʼolewa kutoka humo.
But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, and the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.
