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 that you may know prudence.
2 Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
I will give you a good gift, forsake not my law.
3 Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
For I also was my father’s son, tender and as 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 said: Let thy heart receive my words, keep my commandments, and thou shalt live.
5 Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
Get wisdom, get prudence: forget 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, get wisdom, and with all thy possession purchase prudence.
8 Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
Take hold on her, and she shall exalt thee: thou shalt be glorified by her, when thou shalt embrace her.
9 Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
She shall give to thy head increase of graces, and protect thee with a noble crown.
10 Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
Hear, O my son, and receive my words, that years of life may be multiplied to thee.
11 Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
I will shew thee the way of wisdom, I will lead thee by the paths of equity:
12 Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
Which when thou shalt have entered, thy steps shall not be straitened, and when thou runnest thou shalt not meet a stumblingblock.
13 Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
Take hold on instruction, leave it not: keep it, because it is thy life.
14 Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.
Be not delighted in the paths of the wicked, neither let the way of evil men please thee.
15 Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
Flee from it, pass not by it: go aside, and forsake it.
16 Kwa kuwa hawawezi kulala mpaka watende uovu; wanashindwa hata kusinzia mpaka wamwangushe mtu.
For they sleep not except they have done evil: and their sleep is taken away unless they have made some to fall.
17 Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.
They eat the bread of wickedness, and 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, as a shining light, goeth forwards and increaseth even to perfect day.
19 Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
The way of the wicked is darksome: they know not where they fall.
20 Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.
My son, hearken to my words, and incline thy ear to my sayings.
21 Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;
Let them not depart from thy 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 to those that find them, and health to all flesh.
23 Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
With all watchfulness keep thy heart, because life issueth out from it.
24 Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.
Remove from thee a froward mouth, and let detracting lips be far from thee.
25 Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
Let thy eyes look straight on, and let thy eyelids go before thy steps.
26 Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
Make straight the path for thy feet, and all thy ways shall be established.
27 Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.
Decline not to the right hand, nor to the left: turn away thy foot from evil. For the Lord knoweth the ways that are on the right hand: but those are perverse which are on the left hand. But he will make thy courses straight, he will bring forward thy ways in peace.
