Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
[My] son, attend to my wisdom, and apply your ear to my words;
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
that you may keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives you 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 your palate:
4 lakini mwisho wake ni mchungu kama nyongo, mkali kama upanga ukatao kuwili.
but afterwards you will 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 your 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 you give away your life to others, and your substance to the merciless:
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
lest strangers be filled with your strength, and your labours come into the houses of strangers;
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
And you repent at last, when the flesh of your body is consumed,
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
and you shall 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 your own vessels, and out of your own springing wells.
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
Let not waters out of your fountain be spilt by you, but let your waters go into your streets.
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
Let them be only your own, and let no stranger partake with you.
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let your fountain of water be [truly] your own; and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
19 Kulungu jike apendaye, kulungu mzuri: matiti yake na yakutosheleze siku zote, nawe utekwe daima na upendo wake.
Let [your] loving hart and your graceful colt company with you, and let her be considered your own, and be with you at all times; for ravished with her love you shall 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 yourself in the arms of a woman not your 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.
