Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama utayakubali maneno yangu na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu ndani mwako,
My son, if you would accept my words, and conceal my commandments within you,
2 kutega sikio lako kwenye hekima na kuweka moyo wako katika ufahamu,
so that your ears may listen to wisdom, then bend your heart in order to know prudence.
3 na kama ukiita busara na kuita kwa sauti ufahamu,
For if you would call upon wisdom and bend your heart to prudence,
4 na kama utaitafuta kama fedha na kuitafuta sana kama hazina iliyofichwa,
if you will seek her like money, and dig for her as if for treasure,
5 ndipo utakapoelewa kumcha Bwana na kupata maarifa ya Mungu.
then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and you will discover the knowledge of God.
6 Kwa maana Bwana hutoa hekima, na kinywani mwake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu.
For the Lord bestows wisdom, and out of his mouth, prudence and knowledge.
7 Anahifadhi ushindi kwa ajili ya mwadilifu, yeye ni ngao kwa wale wasio na lawama,
He will preserve the salvation of the righteous, and he will protect those who walk in simplicity:
8 kwa kuwa hulinda mwenendo wa mwenye haki na kuhifadhi njia ya waaminifu wake.
serving the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of sanctity.
9 Ndipo utafahamu lipi lililo kweli na haki na sawa: yaani kila njia nzuri.
Then you shall understand justice and judgment, and equity, and every good path.
10 Kwa maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako, nayo maarifa yataifurahisha nafsi yako.
If wisdom is to enter into your heart, and if knowledge is to become pleasing to your soul,
11 Busara itakuhifadhi na ufahamu utakulinda.
then counsel must guard you, and prudence must serve you,
12 Hekima itakuokoa kutoka njia za waovu, kutoka kwa watu ambao maneno yao yamepotoka,
so that you may be rescued from the evil way, and from the man who speaks perversities,
13 wale waachao mapito yaliyonyooka wakatembea katika njia za giza,
from those who leave the straight path to walk in dark ways,
14 wale wapendao kutenda mabaya na kufurahia upotovu wa ubaya,
who rejoice when they have done evil, and who exult in the most wicked things.
15 ambao mapito yao yamepotoka na ambao ni wapotovu katika njia zao.
Their ways are perverse, and their steps are infamous.
16 Itakuokoa pia kutokana na mwanamke kahaba, kutokana na mke aliyepotoka mwenye maneno ya kushawishi kutenda ubaya,
So may you be rescued from the foreign woman, and from the outsider, who softens her speech,
17 aliyemwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kupuuza agano alilofanya mbele ya Mungu.
and who leaves behind the Guide of her youth,
18 Kwa maana nyumba yake huelekea kwenye kifo na mapito yake kwenye roho za waliokufa.
and who has forgotten the covenant of her God. For her household inclines toward death, and her paths toward Hell. (questioned)
19 Hakuna yeyote aendaye kwake akarudi, au kufikia mapito ya uzima.
All those who enter to her will not return again, nor will they take hold of the paths of life.
20 Hivyo utatembea katika njia za watu wema na kushikamana na mapito ya wenye haki.
So may you walk in the good way, and keep to the difficult paths of the just.
21 Kwa maana wanyofu wataishi katika nchi, nao wasio na lawama watabakia ndani yake.
For those who are upright shall live upon the earth, and the simple shall continue upon it.
22 Bali waovu watakatiliwa mbali kutoka nchi, nao wasio waaminifu watangʼolewa kutoka humo.
Yet truly, the impious shall perish from the earth, and those who act unjustly shall be taken away from it.
