Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama utayakubali maneno yangu na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu ndani mwako,
[My] son, if you will receive the utterance of my commandment, and hide it with you;
2 kutega sikio lako kwenye hekima na kuweka moyo wako katika ufahamu,
your ear shall listen to wisdom; you shall also apply your heart to understanding, and shall apply it to the instruction of your son.
3 na kama ukiita busara na kuita kwa sauti ufahamu,
For it you shall call to wisdom, and utter your voice for understanding;
4 na kama utaitafuta kama fedha na kuitafuta sana kama hazina iliyofichwa,
and if you shall seek it as silver, and search diligently for it as for treasures;
5 ndipo utakapoelewa kumcha Bwana na kupata maarifa ya Mungu.
then shall you 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 shall you understand righteousness, and judgment; and shall direct all your course aright.
10 Kwa maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako, nayo maarifa yataifurahisha nafsi yako.
For if wisdom shall come into your understanding, and discernment shall seem pleasing to your soul,
11 Busara itakuhifadhi na ufahamu utakulinda.
good counsel shall guard you, and holy understanding shall keep you;
12 Hekima itakuokoa kutoka njia za waovu, kutoka kwa watu ambao maneno yao yamepotoka,
to deliver you 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 you far from the straight way, and to estrange you from a righteous purpose. [My] son, let not evil counsel overtake you,
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.
