Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama utayakubali maneno yangu na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu ndani mwako,
My son, if thou dost accept my sayings, And my commands dost lay up with thee,
2 kutega sikio lako kwenye hekima na kuweka moyo wako katika ufahamu,
To cause thine ear to attend to wisdom, Thou inclinest thy heart to understanding,
3 na kama ukiita busara na kuita kwa sauti ufahamu,
For, if for intelligence thou callest, For understanding givest forth thy voice,
4 na kama utaitafuta kama fedha na kuitafuta sana kama hazina iliyofichwa,
If thou dost seek her as silver, And as hid treasures searchest for her,
5 ndipo utakapoelewa kumcha Bwana na kupata maarifa ya Mungu.
Then understandest thou fear of Jehovah, And knowledge of God thou findest.
6 Kwa maana Bwana hutoa hekima, na kinywani mwake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu.
For Jehovah giveth wisdom, From His mouth knowledge and understanding.
7 Anahifadhi ushindi kwa ajili ya mwadilifu, yeye ni ngao kwa wale wasio na lawama,
Even to lay up for the upright substance, A shield for those walking uprightly.
8 kwa kuwa hulinda mwenendo wa mwenye haki na kuhifadhi njia ya waaminifu wake.
To keep the paths of judgment, And the way of His saints He preserveth.
9 Ndipo utafahamu lipi lililo kweli na haki na sawa: yaani kila njia nzuri.
Then understandest thou righteousness, And judgment, and uprightness — every good path.
10 Kwa maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako, nayo maarifa yataifurahisha nafsi yako.
For wisdom cometh into thy heart, And knowledge to thy soul is pleasant,
11 Busara itakuhifadhi na ufahamu utakulinda.
Thoughtfulness doth watch over thee, Understanding doth keep thee,
12 Hekima itakuokoa kutoka njia za waovu, kutoka kwa watu ambao maneno yao yamepotoka,
To deliver thee from an evil way, From any speaking froward things,
13 wale waachao mapito yaliyonyooka wakatembea katika njia za giza,
Who are forsaking paths of uprightness, To walk in ways of darkness,
14 wale wapendao kutenda mabaya na kufurahia upotovu wa ubaya,
Who are rejoicing to do evil, They delight in frowardness of the wicked,
15 ambao mapito yao yamepotoka na ambao ni wapotovu katika njia zao.
Whose paths [are] crooked, Yea, they are perverted in their ways.
16 Itakuokoa pia kutokana na mwanamke kahaba, kutokana na mke aliyepotoka mwenye maneno ya kushawishi kutenda ubaya,
To deliver thee from the strange woman, From the stranger who hath made smooth her sayings,
17 aliyemwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kupuuza agano alilofanya mbele ya Mungu.
Who is forsaking the guide of her youth, And the covenant of her God hath forgotten.
18 Kwa maana nyumba yake huelekea kwenye kifo na mapito yake kwenye roho za waliokufa.
For her house hath inclined unto death, And unto Rephaim her paths.
19 Hakuna yeyote aendaye kwake akarudi, au kufikia mapito ya uzima.
None going in unto her turn back, Nor do they reach the paths of life.
20 Hivyo utatembea katika njia za watu wema na kushikamana na mapito ya wenye haki.
That thou dost go in the way of the good, And the paths of the righteous dost keep.
21 Kwa maana wanyofu wataishi katika nchi, nao wasio na lawama watabakia ndani yake.
For the upright do inhabit the earth, And the perfect are left in it,
22 Bali waovu watakatiliwa mbali kutoka nchi, nao wasio waaminifu watangʼolewa kutoka humo.
And the wicked from the earth are cut off, And treacherous dealers plucked out of it!
