Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama utayakubali maneno yangu na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu ndani mwako,
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
2 kutega sikio lako kwenye hekima na kuweka moyo wako katika ufahamu,
So that thou incline thy ear to wisdom, [and] apply thy heart to understanding;
3 na kama ukiita busara na kuita kwa sauti ufahamu,
Yes, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for 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] 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 understanding.
7 Anahifadhi ushindi kwa ajili ya mwadilifu, yeye ni ngao kwa wale wasio na lawama,
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: [he is] a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
8 kwa kuwa hulinda mwenendo wa mwenye haki na kuhifadhi njia ya waaminifu wake.
He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
9 Ndipo utafahamu lipi lililo kweli na haki na sawa: yaani kila njia nzuri.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; [and] 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 to thy soul;
11 Busara itakuhifadhi na ufahamu utakulinda.
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
12 Hekima itakuokoa kutoka njia za waovu, kutoka kwa watu ambao maneno yao yamepotoka,
To deliver thee from the way of the evil [man], from the man that speaketh 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 the wicked;
15 ambao mapito yao yamepotoka na ambao ni wapotovu katika njia zao.
Whose ways [are] crooked, and [they] froward 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 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 to death, and her paths to the dead.
19 Hakuna yeyote aendaye kwake akarudi, au kufikia mapito ya uzima.
None that go to her return again, neither do they take hold of 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 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 earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
