Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
My son, attend unto my wisdom, incline thine ear to my understanding;
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
that thou mayest keep reflection, and that thy lips may preserve knowledge.
3 Kwa maana midomo ya mwanamke kahaba hudondoza asali, na maneno ya kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta;
For the lips of the strange woman drop honey, 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, 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; her steps take hold on Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
6 Yeye hafikiri juu ya njia ya uzima; njia zake zimepotoka, lakini yeye hajui.
Lest she should ponder the path of life, her ways wander, she knoweth not [whither].
7 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; msiache ninalowaambia.
And now, children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
8 Njia zenu ziwe mbali naye, msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake,
Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
9 usije ukatoa nguvu zako nzuri kwa wengine na miaka yako kwa aliye mkatili,
lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel;
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
lest strangers be filled with thy wealth, and the fruits of thy toil [come] into the house of a stranger;
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
and thou mourn in thine end, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed;
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
and thou say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof!
13 Sikuwatii walimu wangu wala kuwasikiliza wakufunzi wangu.
and I have not hearkened unto the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to those that instructed me;
14 Nimefika ukingoni mwa maangamizi kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko lote.”
I was well nigh 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 cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
Thy fountains shall be poured forth, as water-brooks in the broadways.
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let thy fountain be blessed; and have joy of the wife of thy youth.
19 Kulungu jike apendaye, kulungu mzuri: matiti yake na yakutosheleze siku zote, nawe utekwe daima na upendo wake.
As a lovely hind and a graceful roe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times: be thou ravished continually with her love.
20 Kwa nini mwanangu, utekwe na mwanamke kahaba? Kwa nini ukumbatie kifua cha mke wa mwanaume mwingine?
And why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
21 Kwa maana njia za mtu ni wazi kabisa mbele za Bwana, naye huyapima mapito yake yote.
For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah, and he pondereth all his paths.
22 Matendo mabaya ya mtu mwovu humnasa yeye mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake humkamata kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa nidhamu, akipotoshwa kwa upumbavu wake mwenyewe.
He shall die for want of discipline; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
