Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ears to my understanding,
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
so you may learn about discretion and your lips may protect knowledge.
3 Kwa maana midomo ya mwanamke kahaba hudondoza asali, na maneno ya kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta;
For the lips of an adulteress drip with honey and her mouth is smoother than oil,
4 lakini mwisho wake ni mchungu kama nyongo, mkali kama upanga ukatao kuwili.
but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, cutting like a sharp 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 go all the way to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
6 Yeye hafikiri juu ya njia ya uzima; njia zake zimepotoka, lakini yeye hajui.
She gives no thought to the path of life. Her footsteps wander; she does not know where she is going.
7 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; msiache ninalowaambia.
Now, my sons, listen to me; do not turn away from listening to the words of my mouth.
8 Njia zenu ziwe mbali naye, msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake,
Keep your path far away from her and do not come near the door of her house.
9 usije ukatoa nguvu zako nzuri kwa wengine na miaka yako kwa aliye mkatili,
In that way you will not give away your honor to others or years of your life to a cruel person;
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
strangers will not feast on your wealth; what you have worked for will not go into the house of strangers.
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body waste away.
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
You will say, “How I hated instruction and my heart despised correction!
13 Sikuwatii walimu wangu wala kuwasikiliza wakufunzi wangu.
I would not obey my teachers or incline my ear to my instructors.
14 Nimefika ukingoni mwa maangamizi kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko lote.”
I was almost completely ruined in the midst of the assembly, among the gathering of the people.”
15 Kunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe, maji yanayotiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe.
Drink water from your own cistern and drink running water from your own well.
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
Should your springs overflow everywhere and your streams of water flow in the public squares?
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
Let them be for yourself alone and not for strangers with you.
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
May your fountain be blessed and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth,
19 Kulungu jike apendaye, kulungu mzuri: matiti yake na yakutosheleze siku zote, nawe utekwe daima na upendo wake.
for she is a loving deer and a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you at all times; may you be continually intoxicated by her love.
20 Kwa nini mwanangu, utekwe na mwanamke kahaba? Kwa nini ukumbatie kifua cha mke wa mwanaume mwingine?
For why should you, my son, be captivated by an adulteress; why should you embrace the breasts of an immoral woman?
21 Kwa maana njia za mtu ni wazi kabisa mbele za Bwana, naye huyapima mapito yake yote.
Yahweh sees everything a person does and watches all the paths he takes.
22 Matendo mabaya ya mtu mwovu humnasa yeye mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake humkamata kwa nguvu.
A wicked person will be seized by his own iniquities; the cords of his sin will hold him tight.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa nidhamu, akipotoshwa kwa upumbavu wake mwenyewe.
He will die because he lacks instruction; he is led astray by his great foolishness.
