Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
My son, to my wisdom, attend, and, to mine understanding, incline thou thine ear:
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
That thou mayest preserve discretion, —and, as for knowledge, that thy lips may guard it.
3 Kwa maana midomo ya mwanamke kahaba hudondoza asali, na maneno ya kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta;
For, with sweet droppings, drip the lips of her that is a stranger, and, smoother than oil, is her mouth;
4 lakini mwisho wake ni mchungu kama nyongo, mkali kama upanga ukatao kuwili.
But, the latter end of her, 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, are going down to death, —on hades, will her steps take firm hold. (Sheol h7585)
6 Yeye hafikiri juu ya njia ya uzima; njia zake zimepotoka, lakini yeye hajui.
Lest, the path of life, she should ponder, her tracks have wandered she knoweth not [whither].
7 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; msiache ninalowaambia.
Now, therefore, ye sons, hearken unto me, and do not turn away from the sayings of my mouth.
8 Njia zenu ziwe mbali naye, msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake,
Keep far from her thy way, and do not go near the opening of her house:
9 usije ukatoa nguvu zako nzuri kwa wengine na miaka yako kwa aliye mkatili,
Lest thou give, to other men, thy vigour, and thy years, to him that is cruel:
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
Lest strange men, be well fed, by thy strength, and, thy toils, be in the house of the alien.
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
So shalt thou grieve in thy latter end, in the failing of thy flesh and of thy healthy condition;
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
And thou shalt say—How I hated correction! and, reproof, my heart disdained;
13 Sikuwatii walimu wangu wala kuwasikiliza wakufunzi wangu.
Neither hearkened I to the voice of my teachers, nor, to my instructors, inclined I mine ear:
14 Nimefika ukingoni mwa maangamizi kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko lote.”
Soon was I in all evil, in the midst of convocation and assembly.
15 Kunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe, maji yanayotiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe.
Drink thou water out of thine own cistern, and flowing streams out of the midst of thine own well.
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
Let not thy fountains, flow over, abroad, in the streets, dividings of waters:
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
Let them be for thyself, alone, and not for strangers with thee.
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let thy well-spring be blessed, —and get thy joy from the wife of thy youth: —
19 Kulungu jike apendaye, kulungu mzuri: matiti yake na yakutosheleze siku zote, nawe utekwe daima na upendo wake.
A loving hind! a graceful doe! let, her bosom, content thee at all times, and, in her love, mayst thou stray evermore.
20 Kwa nini mwanangu, utekwe na mwanamke kahaba? Kwa nini ukumbatie kifua cha mke wa mwanaume mwingine?
Wherefore, then, shouldst thou stray, my son, with a strange woman? or embrace the bosom of a woman unknown?
21 Kwa maana njia za mtu ni wazi kabisa mbele za Bwana, naye huyapima mapito yake yote.
For, before the eyes of Yahweh, are the ways of a man, —and, all his tracks, doth he consider:
22 Matendo mabaya ya mtu mwovu humnasa yeye mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake humkamata kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities, shall entrap him with the lawless, and, by the cords of his own sin, shall he be seized.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa nidhamu, akipotoshwa kwa upumbavu wake mwenyewe.
He, shall die, for lack of discipline, and, by the abounding of his perversity, shall he be lost.
