Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama utayakubali maneno yangu na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu ndani mwako,
My son, if thou receivest my words, and layest up my commandments with thee,
2 kutega sikio lako kwenye hekima na kuweka moyo wako katika ufahamu,
so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom [and] thou apply thy heart to understanding;
3 na kama ukiita busara na kuita kwa sauti ufahamu,
yea, if thou criest after discernment [and] liftest up thy voice to understanding;
4 na kama utaitafuta kama fedha na kuitafuta sana kama hazina iliyofichwa,
if thou seekest her as silver and searchest for her as for hidden treasures:
5 ndipo utakapoelewa kumcha Bwana na kupata maarifa ya Mungu.
then shalt thou 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 giveth wisdom; out of his mouth [come] knowledge and understanding.
7 Anahifadhi ushindi kwa ajili ya mwadilifu, yeye ni ngao kwa wale wasio na lawama,
He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; [he] is a shield to them that walk in integrity;
8 kwa kuwa hulinda mwenendo wa mwenye haki na kuhifadhi njia ya waaminifu wake.
guarding the paths of just judgment and keeping the way of his godly ones.
9 Ndipo utafahamu lipi lililo kweli na haki na sawa: yaani kila njia nzuri.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness and judgment and equity: every good path.
10 Kwa maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako, nayo maarifa yataifurahisha nafsi yako.
When wisdom entereth into thy heart and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul,
11 Busara itakuhifadhi na ufahamu utakulinda.
discretion shall keep thee, understanding shall preserve 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 man that speaketh froward things;
13 wale waachao mapito yaliyonyooka wakatembea katika njia za giza,
[from those] who leave 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 frowardness of evil;
15 ambao mapito yao yamepotoka na ambao ni wapotovu katika njia zao.
whose paths are crooked, and who are perverted in their course:
16 Itakuokoa pia kutokana na mwanamke kahaba, kutokana na mke aliyepotoka mwenye maneno ya kushawishi kutenda ubaya,
To deliver thee from the strange woman, from the stranger who flattereth with her words;
17 aliyemwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kupuuza agano alilofanya mbele ya Mungu.
who forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God;
18 Kwa maana nyumba yake huelekea kwenye kifo na mapito yake kwenye roho za waliokufa.
— for her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead;
19 Hakuna yeyote aendaye kwake akarudi, au kufikia mapito ya uzima.
none that go unto her return again, neither 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 mayest walk in the way of the good, 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 unfaithful shall be plucked up out of it.
