Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 Kwa maana midomo ya mwanamke kahaba hudondoza asali, na maneno ya kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta;
Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil,
4 lakini mwisho wake ni mchungu kama nyongo, mkali kama upanga ukatao kuwili.
in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.
5 Miguu yake hushuka kuelekea kwenye kifo; hatua zake huelekea moja kwa moja kaburini. (Sheol h7585)
Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
6 Yeye hafikiri juu ya njia ya uzima; njia zake zimepotoka, lakini yeye hajui.
She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable.
7 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; msiache ninalowaambia.
So now, my sons, listen to me, and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth.
8 Njia zenu ziwe mbali naye, msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake,
Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house,
9 usije ukatoa nguvu zako nzuri kwa wengine na miaka yako kwa aliye mkatili,
lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner.
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are spent,
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
13 Sikuwatii walimu wangu wala kuwasikiliza wakufunzi wangu.
I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors.
14 Nimefika ukingoni mwa maangamizi kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko lote.”
I am on the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.”
15 Kunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe, maji yanayotiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe.
Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:
19 Kulungu jike apendaye, kulungu mzuri: matiti yake na yakutosheleze siku zote, nawe utekwe daima na upendo wake.
A loving doe, a graceful fawn— may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.
20 Kwa nini mwanangu, utekwe na mwanamke kahaba? Kwa nini ukumbatie kifua cha mke wa mwanaume mwingine?
Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger?
21 Kwa maana njia za mtu ni wazi kabisa mbele za Bwana, naye huyapima mapito yake yote.
For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths.
22 Matendo mabaya ya mtu mwovu humnasa yeye mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake humkamata kwa nguvu.
The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa nidhamu, akipotoshwa kwa upumbavu wake mwenyewe.
He dies for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.
