Mithali 4
1 Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know intelligence;
2 Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
for I give you good doctrine: forsake ye not my law.
3 Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one 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 said unto me, Let thy heart retain my words; keep my commandments and live.
5 Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
Get wisdom, get intelligence: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6 Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.
Forsake her not, and she shall keep thee; love her, and she shall preserve thee.
7 Hekima ni bora kuliko vitu vyote; kwa hiyo jipe hekima. Hata ikikugharimu vyote ulivyo navyo, pata ufahamu.
The beginning of wisdom [is], Get wisdom; and with all thy getting get intelligence.
8 Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
Exalt her, and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou dost embrace her.
9 Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
She shall give to thy head a garland of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow upon thee.
10 Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of thy life shall be multiplied.
11 Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
I will teach thee in the way of wisdom, I will lead thee in paths of uprightness.
12 Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
Take fast hold of instruction, let [her] not go: keep her, for she is thy life.
14 Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men]:
15 Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass away.
16 Kwa kuwa hawawezi kulala mpaka watende uovu; wanashindwa hata kusinzia mpaka wamwangushe mtu.
For they sleep not except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away unless they have caused [some] to fall.
17 Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
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 righteous is as the shining light, going on and brightening until the day be fully come.
19 Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
20 Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22 kwa sababu ni uzima kwa wale wanaoyapata na afya kwa mwili wote wa mwanadamu.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
Keep thy heart more than anything that is guarded; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.
Put away from thee perverseness of mouth, and corrupt lips put far from thee.
25 Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be well-ordered.
27 Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.
