Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
[My] son, attend to my wisdom, and apply thine ear to my words;
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
that thou mayest keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives thee a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;
3 Kwa maana midomo ya mwanamke kahaba hudondoza asali, na maneno ya kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta;
for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases thy palate:
4 lakini mwisho wake ni mchungu kama nyongo, mkali kama upanga ukatao kuwili.
but afterwards thou wilt find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.
5 Miguu yake hushuka kuelekea kwenye kifo; hatua zake huelekea moja kwa moja kaburini. (Sheol h7585)
For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established. (Sheol h7585)
6 Yeye hafikiri juu ya njia ya uzima; njia zake zimepotoka, lakini yeye hajui.
For she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.
7 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; msiache ninalowaambia.
Now then, [my] son, hear me, and make not my words of none effect.
8 Njia zenu ziwe mbali naye, msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake,
Remove thy way far from her; draw not near to the doors of her house:
9 usije ukatoa nguvu zako nzuri kwa wengine na miaka yako kwa aliye mkatili,
lest thou give away thy life to others, and thy substance to the merciless:
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours come into the houses of strangers;
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
And thou repent at last, when the flesh of thy body is consumed,
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
and thou shalt say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart avoided reproofs!
13 Sikuwatii walimu wangu wala kuwasikiliza wakufunzi wangu.
I heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, neither did I apply mine ear.
14 Nimefika ukingoni mwa maangamizi kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko lote.”
I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
15 Kunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe, maji yanayotiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe.
Drink waters out of thine own vessels, and out of thine own springing wells.
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
Let not waters out of thy fountain be spilt by thee, but let thy waters go into thy streets.
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
Let them be only thine own, and let no stranger partake with thee.
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let thy fountain of water be [truly] thine own; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
19 Kulungu jike apendaye, kulungu mzuri: matiti yake na yakutosheleze siku zote, nawe utekwe daima na upendo wake.
Let [thy] loving hart and thy graceful colt company with thee, and let her be considered thine own, and be with thee at all times; for ravished with her love thou shalt be greatly increased.
20 Kwa nini mwanangu, utekwe na mwanamke kahaba? Kwa nini ukumbatie kifua cha mke wa mwanaume mwingine?
Be not intimate with a strange woman, neither fold thyself in the arms of a woman not thine own.
21 Kwa maana njia za mtu ni wazi kabisa mbele za Bwana, naye huyapima mapito yake yote.
For the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, and he looks on all his paths.
22 Matendo mabaya ya mtu mwovu humnasa yeye mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake humkamata kwa nguvu.
Iniquities ensnare a man, and every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa nidhamu, akipotoshwa kwa upumbavu wake mwenyewe.
Such a man dies with the uninstructed; and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.
