Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline thy ear to my prudence.
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
That thou mayst keep thoughts, and thy lips may preserve instruction. Mind not the deceit of a woman.
3 Kwa maana midomo ya mwanamke kahaba hudondoza asali, na maneno ya kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta;
For the lips of a harlot are like a honeycomb dropping, and her throat 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 into death, and her steps go in as far as hell. (Sheol h7585)
6 Yeye hafikiri juu ya njia ya uzima; njia zake zimepotoka, lakini yeye hajui.
They walk not by the path of life, her steps are wandering, and unaccountable.
7 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; msiache ninalowaambia.
Now therefore, my son, hear 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 doors of her house.
9 usije ukatoa nguvu zako nzuri kwa wengine na miaka yako kwa aliye mkatili,
Give not thy honour to strangers, and thy years to the cruel.
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
Lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours be in another man’s house,
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
And thou mourn it the last, when thou shalt have spent thy flesh and thy body, and say:
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
Why have I hated instruction, and my heart consented not to reproof,
13 Sikuwatii walimu wangu wala kuwasikiliza wakufunzi wangu.
And have not heard the voice of them that taught me, and have not inclined my ear to masters?
14 Nimefika ukingoni mwa maangamizi kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko lote.”
I have almost been in all evil, in the midst of the church and of the congregation.
15 Kunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe, maji yanayotiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe.
Drink water out of thy own cistern, and the streams of thy own well:
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
Let thy fountains be conveyed abroad, and in the streets divide thy waters.
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
Keep them to thyself alone, neither let strangers be partakers with thee.
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let thy vein be blessed, 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 her be thy dearest hind, and most agreeable fawn: let her breasts inebriate thee at all times; he thou delighted continually with her love.
20 Kwa nini mwanangu, utekwe na mwanamke kahaba? Kwa nini ukumbatie kifua cha mke wa mwanaume mwingine?
Why art thou seduced, my son, by a strange woman, and art cherished in the bosom of another?
21 Kwa maana njia za mtu ni wazi kabisa mbele za Bwana, naye huyapima mapito yake yote.
The Lord beholdeth the ways of man, and considereth all his steps.
22 Matendo mabaya ya mtu mwovu humnasa yeye mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake humkamata kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities catch the wicked, and he is fast bound with the ropes of his own sins.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa nidhamu, akipotoshwa kwa upumbavu wake mwenyewe.
He shall die, because he hath not received instruction, and in the multitude of his folly he shall be deceived.
