Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
My son! Give attention to my wisdom, Incline your ear to my understanding,
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
To observe thoughtfulness, And your lips keep knowledge.
3 Kwa maana midomo ya mwanamke kahaba hudondoza asali, na maneno ya kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta;
For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth [is] smoother than oil,
4 lakini mwisho wake ni mchungu kama nyongo, mkali kama upanga ukatao kuwili.
And her latter end [is] bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a sword [with] mouths.
5 Miguu yake hushuka kuelekea kwenye kifo; hatua zake huelekea moja kwa moja kaburini. (Sheol h7585)
Her feet are going down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
6 Yeye hafikiri juu ya njia ya uzima; njia zake zimepotoka, lakini yeye hajui.
The path of life—lest you ponder, Her paths have moved—you do not know.
7 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; msiache ninalowaambia.
And now, you sons, listen to me, And do not turn from sayings of my mouth.
8 Njia zenu ziwe mbali naye, msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake,
Keep your way far from off her, And do not come near to the opening of her house,
9 usije ukatoa nguvu zako nzuri kwa wengine na miaka yako kwa aliye mkatili,
Lest you give your splendor to others, And your years to the fierce,
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
Lest strangers be filled [with] your power, And your labors in the house of a stranger,
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
And you have howled in your latter end, In the consumption of your flesh and your food,
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
And have said, “How I have hated instruction, And my heart has despised reproof,
13 Sikuwatii walimu wangu wala kuwasikiliza wakufunzi wangu.
And I have not listened to the voice of my teachers, And have not inclined my ear to my teachers.
14 Nimefika ukingoni mwa maangamizi kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko lote.”
As a little thing I have been all evil, In the midst of an assembly and a congregation.”
15 Kunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe, maji yanayotiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe.
Drink waters out of your own cistern, Even flowing ones out of your own well.
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
Let your fountains be scattered abroad, In broad places streams of waters.
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
Let them be to you for yourself, And not to strangers with you.
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice because of the wife of your youth,
19 Kulungu jike apendaye, kulungu mzuri: matiti yake na yakutosheleze siku zote, nawe utekwe daima na upendo wake.
A doe of loves, and a roe of grace! Let her loves satisfy you at all times, Magnify yourself in her love continually.
20 Kwa nini mwanangu, utekwe na mwanamke kahaba? Kwa nini ukumbatie kifua cha mke wa mwanaume mwingine?
And why do you magnify yourself, My son, with a stranger? And embrace the bosom of a strange woman?
21 Kwa maana njia za mtu ni wazi kabisa mbele za Bwana, naye huyapima mapito yake yote.
For the ways of each are before the eyes of YHWH, And He is pondering all his paths.
22 Matendo mabaya ya mtu mwovu humnasa yeye mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake humkamata kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities capture the wicked, And he is holden with the ropes of his sin.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa nidhamu, akipotoshwa kwa upumbavu wake mwenyewe.
He dies without instruction, And magnifies himself in the abundance of his folly!
