Mithali 4
1 Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.
Listen, sons, to the discipline of a father, and pay attention, so that you may know prudence.
2 Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
I will bestow upon you a good gift. Do not relinquish my law.
3 Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
For I, too, was the son of my father, tender and an only son in the sight of my mother.
4 baba alinifundisha akisema, “Yashike maneno yangu yote kwa moyo wako wote; yashike maagizo yangu na wewe utaishi.
And he taught me, and he also said: “Let your heart accept my words. Keep my precepts, and you shall live.
5 Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
Obtain wisdom, obtain prudence. May you neither forget, nor turn away from, the words of my mouth.
6 Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.
Do not send her away, and she will guard you. Love her, and she will preserve you.
7 Hekima ni bora kuliko vitu vyote; kwa hiyo jipe hekima. Hata ikikugharimu vyote ulivyo navyo, pata ufahamu.
The beginning of wisdom is to obtain wisdom, and, with all that you possess, to acquire prudence.
8 Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
Grasp her, and she will exalt you. You will be glorified by her, when you have embraced her.
9 Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
She will bestow upon your head an increase in graces, and she will protect you with a noble crown.
10 Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
Listen, my son, and accept my words, so that years of life may be multiplied for you.
11 Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
I will demonstrate to you the way of wisdom. I will lead you along the paths of equity.
12 Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
When you have entered by these, your steps will not be constrained, and when running, you will have no obstacle.
13 Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
Take hold of discipline. Do not dismiss it. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.
Do not delight in the paths of the impious, nor permit the way of evil-doers to please you.
15 Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
Take flight from it. Do not pass close to it. Turn away and abandon it.
16 Kwa kuwa hawawezi kulala mpaka watende uovu; wanashindwa hata kusinzia mpaka wamwangushe mtu.
For they do not sleep, unless they have done evil. And their sleep is quickly taken away from them, unless they have overthrown.
17 Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.
They eat the bread of impiety, and they drink the wine of iniquity.
18 Njia ya wenye haki ni kama nuru ya kwanza ya mapambazuko, ambayo hungʼaa zaidi na zaidi mpaka mchana mkamilifu.
But the path of the just is like a shining light: it advances and increases, even to the day of completion.
19 Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
The way of the impious is darkened. They do not know where they may fall.
20 Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.
My son, pay attention to my sermons, and incline your ear to my eloquent words.
21 Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;
Let them not recede from your eyes. Keep them in the midst of your heart.
22 kwa sababu ni uzima kwa wale wanaoyapata na afya kwa mwili wote wa mwanadamu.
For they are life to those who find them and health to all that is flesh.
23 Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
Preserve your heart with all watchfulness, for life proceeds from this.
24 Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.
Remove from yourself a corrupt mouth, and let detracting lips be far from you.
25 Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, and let your eyelids precede your steps.
26 Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
Direct the path of your feet, and all your ways shall be secure.
27 Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.
Turn aside, neither to the right, nor to the left; yet turn your foot away from evil. For the Lord knows the ways that are on the right, and truly, those that are on the left are perverse. But he himself will make your courses straight. Then your journey will advance in peace.
