Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama utayakubali maneno yangu na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu ndani mwako,
My son, listen to what I say, and [consider my instructions to be as valuable as] [MET] a treasure.
2 kutega sikio lako kwenye hekima na kuweka moyo wako katika ufahamu,
Pay attention to wisdom and try hard to understand it.
3 na kama ukiita busara na kuita kwa sauti ufahamu,
Call out [to God] to get insight; plead with him to help you to understand more [of what he wants you to know].
4 na kama utaitafuta kama fedha na kuitafuta sana kama hazina iliyofichwa,
Search [eagerly] for wisdom, like you would search for silver, like you would search for a treasure that someone has hidden.
5 ndipo utakapoelewa kumcha Bwana na kupata maarifa ya Mungu.
If you do that, you will understand how to revere Yahweh, and you will succeed in knowing God.
6 Kwa maana Bwana hutoa hekima, na kinywani mwake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu.
Yahweh is the one who gives us wisdom. He is the one who tells us things that we need to know and understand.
7 Anahifadhi ushindi kwa ajili ya mwadilifu, yeye ni ngao kwa wale wasio na lawama,
He gives good advice to those who conduct their lives as they should. He protects [MET] those who do what is right.
8 kwa kuwa hulinda mwenendo wa mwenye haki na kuhifadhi njia ya waaminifu wake.
He guards those who act justly/fairly [toward others], and he watches over those who are faithful/loyal [to him].
9 Ndipo utafahamu lipi lililo kweli na haki na sawa: yaani kila njia nzuri.
[If you ask God for wisdom], you will understand what is right and just [DOU] [to do], and [you will know] the right way to conduct your life,
10 Kwa maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako, nayo maarifa yataifurahisha nafsi yako.
because you will be wise in your inner being; and knowing [what God wants you to know] will cause you to be joyful.
11 Busara itakuhifadhi na ufahamu utakulinda.
If you know [PRS] how to choose what is right to do and if you understand [what God wants] you to do, God will protect you and guard you and keep you safe.
12 Hekima itakuokoa kutoka njia za waovu, kutoka kwa watu ambao maneno yao yamepotoka,
If you are wise [PRS], you will not do what evil people do, and you will not [believe what] deceitful people say.
13 wale waachao mapito yaliyonyooka wakatembea katika njia za giza,
Deceitful people have stopped acting fairly/justly [toward others] and (walk on dark and evil paths/do what evil people do) [MET].
14 wale wapendao kutenda mabaya na kufurahia upotovu wa ubaya,
They enjoy doing what is wrong; they like to do what is evil and to deceive [people].
15 ambao mapito yao yamepotoka na ambao ni wapotovu katika njia zao.
They (walk on crooked paths/always deceive others) and are always dishonest.
16 Itakuokoa pia kutokana na mwanamke kahaba, kutokana na mke aliyepotoka mwenye maneno ya kushawishi kutenda ubaya,
If you are wise [PRS], you will [also] be saved from (immoral women/prostitutes); you will not pay attention when adulterous women try to (seduce/entice you by what they say.)
17 aliyemwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kupuuza agano alilofanya mbele ya Mungu.
Those women have left the husbands whom they married when they were young; they have disregarded the solemn promise they made to God [not to commit adultery].
18 Kwa maana nyumba yake huelekea kwenye kifo na mapito yake kwenye roho za waliokufa.
If you go into houses of women who are like that, you will die [when you are still young]; the road [to their houses] leads to hell. (questioned)
19 Hakuna yeyote aendaye kwake akarudi, au kufikia mapito ya uzima.
No man who (visits/sleeps with) a woman like that will again [live harmoniously with his family]. He will never have a [happy] life again.
20 Hivyo utatembea katika njia za watu wema na kushikamana na mapito ya wenye haki.
If [you are wise], you should behave like good men behave. You should (stay on the paths that righteous [people] walk on/do what godly people do) [MET],
21 Kwa maana wanyofu wataishi katika nchi, nao wasio na lawama watabakia ndani yake.
because only godly people will live in this land [and receive God’s blessings]; [only] those who have not done wrong will stay here [for a long time].
22 Bali waovu watakatiliwa mbali kutoka nchi, nao wasio waaminifu watangʼolewa kutoka humo.
Wicked [people] will be expelled from this land, and [people] who are not trustworthy will be thrown {God will throw them} out of it.
