Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, sikiliza kwa makini hekima yangu, sikiliza vizuri maneno yangu ya busara,
My son! to my wisdom give attention, To mine understanding incline thine ear,
2 ili uweze kutunza busara na midomo yako ihifadhi maarifa.
To observe thoughtfulness, And knowledge do thy lips keep.
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 smoother than oil [is] her mouth,
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, Sheol do her steps take hold of. (Sheol h7585)
6 Yeye hafikiri juu ya njia ya uzima; njia zake zimepotoka, lakini yeye hajui.
The path of life — lest thou ponder, Moved have her paths — thou knowest not.
7 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; msiache ninalowaambia.
And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And turn not from sayings of my mouth.
8 Njia zenu ziwe mbali naye, msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake,
Keep far from off her thy way, And come not near unto the opening of her house,
9 usije ukatoa nguvu zako nzuri kwa wengine na miaka yako kwa aliye mkatili,
Lest thou give to others thy honour, And thy years to the fierce,
10 wageni wasije wakasherehekea utajiri wako na jitihada yako ikatajirisha nyumba ya mwanaume mwingine.
Lest strangers be filled [with] thy power, And thy labours in the house of a stranger,
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yako utalia kwa uchungu, wakati nyama na mwili wako vimechakaa.
And thou hast howled in thy latter end, In the consumption of thy flesh and thy food,
12 Utasema, “Tazama jinsi gani nilivyochukia adhabu! Tazama jinsi moyo wangu ulivyodharau maonyo!
And hast said, 'How have I hated instruction, And reproof hath my heart despised,
13 Sikuwatii walimu wangu wala kuwasikiliza wakufunzi wangu.
And I have not hearkened to the voice of my directors, And to my teachers have not inclined mine ear.
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 company.
15 Kunywa maji kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe, maji yanayotiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chako mwenyewe.
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, Even flowing ones out of thine own well.
16 Je, chemchemi zako zifurike katika barabara za mji na vijito vyako vya maji viwanjani?
Let thy fountains be scattered abroad, In broad places rivulets of waters.
17 Na viwe vyako mwenyewe, kamwe visishirikishwe wageni.
Let them be to thee for thyself, And not to strangers with thee.
18 Chemchemi yako na ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let thy fountain be blessed, And rejoice because of the wife of thy youth,
19 Kulungu jike apendaye, kulungu mzuri: matiti yake na yakutosheleze siku zote, nawe utekwe daima na upendo wake.
A hind of loves, and a roe of grace! Let her loves satisfy thee at all times, In her love magnify thyself continually.
20 Kwa nini mwanangu, utekwe na mwanamke kahaba? Kwa nini ukumbatie kifua cha mke wa mwanaume mwingine?
And why dost thou magnify thyself, 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 over-against the eyes of Jehovah are the ways of each, And all his paths He is pondering.
22 Matendo mabaya ya mtu mwovu humnasa yeye mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake humkamata kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities do capture the wicked, And with the ropes of his sin he is holden.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa nidhamu, akipotoshwa kwa upumbavu wake mwenyewe.
He dieth without instruction, And in the abundance of his folly magnifieth himself!
