Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
My son, attend to my wisdom. And bow thine ear to my understanding;
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
That thou mayest keep discretion, 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;
Truly, 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.
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 lay hold of the under-world. (Sheol h7585)
6 Yeye hafikiri juu ya njia ya uzima; njia zake zimepotoka, lakini yeye hajui.
That she may not ponder the way of life, Her paths waver when she heedeth it not.
7 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; msiache ninalowaambia.
Hear me now, therefore, O children! And turn not away 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 thy bloom to others, And thy years to a cruel one;
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth, And thine earnings be in the house of an alien;
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
And lest thou mourn in thy latter end. When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
And say, “How have I hated instruction! And how hath my heart despised reproof!
13 Sikuwatii walimu wangu wala kuwasikiliza wakufunzi wangu.
I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to my instructors;
14 Nimefika ukingoni mwa maangamizi kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko lote.”
I have well-nigh fallen into utter misery; In the midst of the congregation and the assembly.”
15 Kunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe, maji yanayotiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe.
Drink water out of thine own cistern. And running water out of thine own well:
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
So shall thy fountains overflow in the streets, In the wide streets, as streams of water;
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
They shall belong to thee alone, And not to strangers with thee;
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
And thy fountain shall be blessed, Yea, thou shalt have joy in the wife of thy youth.
19 Kulungu jike apendaye, kulungu mzuri: matiti yake na yakutosheleze siku zote, nawe utekwe daima na upendo wake.
A lovely hind, a graceful doe, Her breasts shall satisfy thee at all times, And thou shalt be always ravished with her love.
20 Kwa nini mwanangu, utekwe na mwanamke kahaba? Kwa nini ukumbatie kifua cha mke wa mwanaume mwingine?
Why, then, my son, wilt thou be ravished with a wanton, 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 the LORD, And he weigheth well all his paths.
22 Matendo mabaya ya mtu mwovu humnasa yeye mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake humkamata kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked; Yea, he shall be held fast by the cords of his own sins.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa nidhamu, akipotoshwa kwa upumbavu wake mwenyewe.
He shall die for want of instruction; Yea, through the greatness of his folly he shall stagger.
