Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama utayakubali maneno yangu na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu ndani mwako,
[My] son, if thou wilt receive the utterance of my commandment, and hide it with thee;
2 kutega sikio lako kwenye hekima na kuweka moyo wako katika ufahamu,
thine ear shall hearken to wisdom; thou shalt also apply thine heart to understanding, and shalt apply it to the instruction of thy son.
3 na kama ukiita busara na kuita kwa sauti ufahamu,
For it thou shalt call to wisdom, and utter thy voice for understanding;
4 na kama utaitafuta kama fedha na kuitafuta sana kama hazina iliyofichwa,
and if thou shalt seek it as silver, and search diligently for it as for treasures;
5 ndipo utakapoelewa kumcha Bwana na kupata maarifa ya Mungu.
then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
6 Kwa maana Bwana hutoa hekima, na kinywani mwake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu.
For the Lord gives wisdom; and from his presence [come] knowledge and understanding,
7 Anahifadhi ushindi kwa ajili ya mwadilifu, yeye ni ngao kwa wale wasio na lawama,
and he treasures up salvation for them that walk uprightly: he will protect their way;
8 kwa kuwa hulinda mwenendo wa mwenye haki na kuhifadhi njia ya waaminifu wake.
that he may guard the righteous ways: and he will preserve the way of them that fear him.
9 Ndipo utafahamu lipi lililo kweli na haki na sawa: yaani kila njia nzuri.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment; and shalt direct all thy course aright.
10 Kwa maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako, nayo maarifa yataifurahisha nafsi yako.
For if wisdom shall come into thine understanding, and discernment shall seem pleasing to thy soul,
11 Busara itakuhifadhi na ufahamu utakulinda.
good counsel shall guard thee, and holy understanding shall keep thee;
12 Hekima itakuokoa kutoka njia za waovu, kutoka kwa watu ambao maneno yao yamepotoka,
to deliver thee from the evil way, and from the man that speaks nothing faithfully.
13 wale waachao mapito yaliyonyooka wakatembea katika njia za giza,
Alas [for those] who forsake right paths, to walk in ways of darkness;
14 wale wapendao kutenda mabaya na kufurahia upotovu wa ubaya,
who rejoice in evils, and delight in wicked perverseness;
15 ambao mapito yao yamepotoka na ambao ni wapotovu katika njia zao.
whose paths are crooked, and their courses winding;
16 Itakuokoa pia kutokana na mwanamke kahaba, kutokana na mke aliyepotoka mwenye maneno ya kushawishi kutenda ubaya,
to remove thee far from the straight way, and to estrange thee from a righteous purpose. [My] son, let not evil counsel overtake thee,
17 aliyemwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kupuuza agano alilofanya mbele ya Mungu.
[of her] who has forsaken the instruction of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of God.
18 Kwa maana nyumba yake huelekea kwenye kifo na mapito yake kwenye roho za waliokufa.
For she has fixed her house near death, and [guided] her wheels near Hades with the giants.
19 Hakuna yeyote aendaye kwake akarudi, au kufikia mapito ya uzima.
None that go by her shall return, neither shall they take hold of right paths, for they are not apprehended of the years of life.
20 Hivyo utatembea katika njia za watu wema na kushikamana na mapito ya wenye haki.
For had they gone in good paths, they would have found the paths of righteousness easy.
21 Kwa maana wanyofu wataishi katika nchi, nao wasio na lawama watabakia ndani yake.
For the upright shall dwell in the earth, and the holy shall be left behind in it.
22 Bali waovu watakatiliwa mbali kutoka nchi, nao wasio waaminifu watangʼolewa kutoka humo.
The paths of the ungodly shall perish out of the earth, and transgressors shall be driven away from it.
