Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama utayakubali maneno yangu na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu ndani mwako,
My son, if thou wouldst but accept my words, and treasure up my commandments with thee;
2 kutega sikio lako kwenye hekima na kuweka moyo wako katika ufahamu,
To let thy ear listen unto wisdom: [if] thou wouldst incline thy heart to understanding.
3 na kama ukiita busara na kuita kwa sauti ufahamu,
For if thou wilt call after intelligence; if after understanding thou wilt lift up thy voice;
4 na kama utaitafuta kama fedha na kuitafuta sana kama hazina iliyofichwa,
If thou wilt seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:
5 ndipo utakapoelewa kumcha Bwana na kupata maarifa ya Mungu.
Then wilt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of God wilt thou find.
6 Kwa maana Bwana hutoa hekima, na kinywani mwake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu.
For the Lord 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 treasureth up sound wisdom for the righteous, as a shield to those that walk in integrity:
8 kwa kuwa hulinda mwenendo wa mwenye haki na kuhifadhi njia ya waaminifu wake.
That men may keep the paths of justice; and the way of his pious servants doth he guard.
9 Ndipo utafahamu lipi lililo kweli na haki na sawa: yaani kila njia nzuri.
Then wilt thou understand righteousness, and justice, and equity: yea, every track of goodness.
10 Kwa maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako, nayo maarifa yataifurahisha nafsi yako.
For wisdom will enter thy heart, and knowledge will be pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Busara itakuhifadhi na ufahamu utakulinda.
Discretion will watch over thee, understanding will keep thee;
12 Hekima itakuokoa kutoka njia za waovu, kutoka kwa watu ambao maneno yao yamepotoka,
To deliver thee from the way of the bad, from the man that speaketh perverse 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, who are delighted in the perverseness of the bad;
15 ambao mapito yao yamepotoka na ambao ni wapotovu katika njia zao.
Who as regardeth their paths are crooked, and froward in their tracks.
16 Itakuokoa pia kutokana na mwanamke kahaba, kutokana na mke aliyepotoka mwenye maneno ya kushawishi kutenda ubaya,
To deliver thee from the adulteress, from the alien woman that useth flattering speeches;
17 aliyemwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kupuuza agano alilofanya mbele ya Mungu.
That forsaketh the friend 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 she sinketh unto death—her house, and unto the departed [lead] her tracks.
19 Hakuna yeyote aendaye kwake akarudi, au kufikia mapito ya uzima.
All that come unto her return not again, and they will not reach the paths of life.
20 Hivyo utatembea katika njia za watu wema na kushikamana na mapito ya wenye haki.
In order that thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and observe the paths of the righteous.
21 Kwa maana wanyofu wataishi katika nchi, nao wasio na lawama watabakia ndani yake.
For the upright will dwell on the earth, and the perfect will be left remaining on it.
22 Bali waovu watakatiliwa mbali kutoka nchi, nao wasio waaminifu watangʼolewa kutoka humo.
But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous shall be plucked up therefrom.
