Mithali 4
1 Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.
Hear, ye children, the correction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
For good information do I give you: my teaching must ye not forsake.
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, a tender and an only child before my mother.
4 baba alinifundisha akisema, “Yashike maneno yangu yote kwa moyo wako wote; yashike maagizo yangu na wewe utaishi.
And he instructed me, and said unto me, Let thy heart grasp firmly my words: observe my commandments and live.
5 Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding: forget not, and depart not from the sayings of my mouth.
6 Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.
Forsake her not, and she will watch over thee: love her, and she will keep thee.
7 Hekima ni bora kuliko vitu vyote; kwa hiyo jipe hekima. Hata ikikugharimu vyote ulivyo navyo, pata ufahamu.
The beginning of wisdom is, Acquire wisdom: and with all thy acquisition acquire understanding.
8 Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
Hold her in high esteem, and she will exalt thee: she will bring thee to honor, when thou embracest her.
9 Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
She will give to thy head a wreath of grace: a crown of ornament will she deliver to thee.
10 Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
Hear, O my son, and accept my sayings: and they will increase unto thee the years of life.
11 Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
In the way of wisdom have I instructed thee: I have led thee in the tracks of uprightness.
12 Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
When thou walkest, thy step shall not be narrowed; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
Lay fast hold of correction; 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 step not on the way of the bad.
15 Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
Avoid it, pass not through by it, turn off 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 evil, and their sleep is robbed away, unless they cause some to stumble.
17 Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.
For they eat the bread of wickedness; and the wine of violence do they drink.
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 early morning light, that shineth more and more brightly until the height of noonday.
19 Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
The way of the wicked is like darkness: they know not against what they stumble.
20 Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.
My son, attend to my words, unto my sayings incline thy ear.
21 Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;
Let them not slip away from thy eyes: guard 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 every one of those that find them, and to all his body a healing.
23 Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
Above all that is to be guarded, keep thy heart, for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.
Remove from thee frowardness of mouth; and perverseness of lips put away far from thee.
25 Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
Let thy eyes look right forward, and let thy eyelids see straight out before thee.
26 Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
Balance well the track of thy foot, and let all thy ways be firmly right.
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.
