Mithali 4
1 Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.
Heare, O ye children, the instruction of a father, and giue eare to learne vnderstanding.
2 Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
For I doe giue you a good doctrine: therefore forsake yee not my lawe.
3 Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
For I was my fathers sonne, tender and deare in the sight of my mother,
4 baba alinifundisha akisema, “Yashike maneno yangu yote kwa moyo wako wote; yashike maagizo yangu na wewe utaishi.
When he taught me, and sayde vnto me, Let thine heart holde fast my woordes: keepe my commandements, and thou shalt liue.
5 Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
Get wisedom: get vnderstading: forget not, neither decline from the woordes of my mouth.
6 Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.
Forsake her not, and shee shall keepe thee: loue her and shee shall preserue thee.
7 Hekima ni bora kuliko vitu vyote; kwa hiyo jipe hekima. Hata ikikugharimu vyote ulivyo navyo, pata ufahamu.
Wisedome is the beginning: get wisedome therefore: and aboue all thy possession get vnderstanding.
8 Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
Exalt her, and she shall exalt thee: she shall bring thee to honour, if thou embrace her.
9 Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
She shall giue a comely ornamet vnto thine head, yea, she shall giue thee a crowne of glorie.
10 Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
Heare, my sonne, and receiue my wordes, and the yeeres of thy life shalbe many.
11 Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
I haue taught thee in ye way of wisedom, and led thee in the pathes of righteousnesse.
12 Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
Whe thou goest, thy gate shall not be strait, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall.
13 Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
Take holde of instruction, and leaue not: keepe her, for shee is thy life.
14 Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.
Enter not into the way of the wicked, and walke not in the way of euill men.
15 Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
Auoide it, and goe not by it: turne from it, and passe by.
16 Kwa kuwa hawawezi kulala mpaka watende uovu; wanashindwa hata kusinzia mpaka wamwangushe mtu.
For they can not sleepe, except they haue done euill, and their sleepe departeth except they cause some to fall.
17 Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.
For they eate the breade of wickednesse, and drinke 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 way of the righteous shineth as the light, that shineth more and more vnto the perfite day.
19 Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
The way of the wicked is as the darkenes: they knowe not wherein they shall fall.
20 Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.
My sonne, hearken vnto my wordes, incline thine eare vnto my sayings.
21 Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;
Let them not depart from thine eyes, but keepe them in the middes of thine heart.
22 kwa sababu ni uzima kwa wale wanaoyapata na afya kwa mwili wote wa mwanadamu.
For they are life vnto those that find them, and health vnto all their flesh.
23 Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
Keepe thine heart with all diligence: for thereout commeth life.
24 Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and put wicked lippes farre from thee.
25 Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
Let thine eyes beholde the right, and let thine eyelids direct thy way before thee.
26 Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
Ponder the path of thy feete, and let all thy waies be ordred aright.
27 Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.
Turne not to the right hande, nor to the left, but remooue thy foote from euill.
