Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
My son, give attention to my wisdom; let your ear be turned to my teaching:
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
So that you may be ruled by a wise purpose, and your lips may keep knowledge.
3 Kwa maana midomo ya mwanamke kahaba hudondoza asali, na maneno ya kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta;
For honey is dropping from the lips of the strange woman, and her mouth is smoother than oil;
4 lakini mwisho wake ni mchungu kama nyongo, mkali kama upanga ukatao kuwili.
But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword;
5 Miguu yake hushuka kuelekea kwenye kifo; hatua zake huelekea moja kwa moja kaburini. (Sheol h7585)
Her feet go down to death, and her steps to the underworld; (Sheol h7585)
6 Yeye hafikiri juu ya njia ya uzima; njia zake zimepotoka, lakini yeye hajui.
She never keeps her mind on the road of life; her ways are uncertain, she has no knowledge.
7 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; msiache ninalowaambia.
Give ear to me then, my sons, and do not put away my words from you.
8 Njia zenu ziwe mbali naye, msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake,
Go far away from her, do not come near the door of her house;
9 usije ukatoa nguvu zako nzuri kwa wengine na miaka yako kwa aliye mkatili,
For fear that you may give your honour to others, and your wealth to strange men:
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
And strange men may be full of your wealth, and the fruit of your work go to the house of others;
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
And you will be full of grief at the end of your life, when your flesh and your body are wasted;
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
And you will say, How was teaching hated by me, and my heart put no value on training;
13 Sikuwatii walimu wangu wala kuwasikiliza wakufunzi wangu.
I did not give attention to the voice of my teachers, my ear was not turned to those who were guiding me!
14 Nimefika ukingoni mwa maangamizi kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko lote.”
I was in almost all evil in the company of the people.
15 Kunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe, maji yanayotiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe.
Let water from your store and not that of others be your drink, and running water from your fountain.
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
Let not your springs be flowing in the streets, or your streams of water in the open places.
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
Let them be for yourself only, not for other men with you.
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let blessing be on your fountain; have joy in the wife of your early years.
19 Kulungu jike apendaye, kulungu mzuri: matiti yake na yakutosheleze siku zote, nawe utekwe daima na upendo wake.
As a loving hind and a gentle doe, let her breasts ever give you rapture; let your passion at all times be moved by her love.
20 Kwa nini mwanangu, utekwe na mwanamke kahaba? Kwa nini ukumbatie kifua cha mke wa mwanaume mwingine?
Why let yourself, my son, go out of the way with a strange woman, and take another woman in your arms?
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 he puts all his goings in the scales.
22 Matendo mabaya ya mtu mwovu humnasa yeye mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake humkamata kwa nguvu.
The evil-doer will be taken in the net of his crimes, and prisoned in the cords of his sin.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa nidhamu, akipotoshwa kwa upumbavu wake mwenyewe.
He will come to his end for need of teaching; he is so foolish that he will go wandering from the right way.
