Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama utayakubali maneno yangu na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu ndani mwako,
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and lay up my commandments with thee;
2 kutega sikio lako kwenye hekima na kuweka moyo wako katika ufahamu,
So that thou make thine ear attend unto wisdom, and thy heart incline to discernment;
3 na kama ukiita busara na kuita kwa sauti ufahamu,
Yea, if thou call for understanding, and lift up thy voice for discernment;
4 na kama utaitafuta kama fedha na kuitafuta sana kama hazina iliyofichwa,
If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid 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 giveth wisdom, out of His mouth cometh knowledge and discernment;
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.
That He may guard the paths of justice, and preserve 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 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 unto thy soul;
11 Busara itakuhifadhi na ufahamu utakulinda.
Discretion shall watch over thee, discernment shall guard 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 that speak froward things;
13 wale waachao mapito yaliyonyooka wakatembea katika njia za giza,
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.
Who are crooked in their ways, and perverse 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 strange woman, even from the alien woman that maketh smooth her words;
17 aliyemwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kupuuza agano alilofanya mbele ya Mungu.
That forsaketh the lord 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 sinketh down unto death, and her paths unto the shades;
19 Hakuna yeyote aendaye kwake akarudi, au kufikia mapito ya uzima.
None that go unto her return, neither do they attain unto 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 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 whole-hearted 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 faithless shall be plucked up out of it.
