Mithali 7
1 Mwanangu, shika maneno yangu na kuzihifadhi amri zangu ndani yako.
My son, guard my words and conceal my precepts within you.
2 Shika amri zangu nawe utaishi; linda mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho lako.
Son, preserve my commandments, and you shall live. And keep my law as the pupil of your eye.
3 Yafunge katika vidole vyako; yaandike katika kibao cha moyo wako.
Bind it with your fingers; write it on the tablets of your heart.
4 Mwambie hekima, “Wewe ni dada yangu,” uite ufahamu jamaa yako;
Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call prudence your friend.
5 watakuepusha na mwanamke mzinzi, kutokana na mwanamke mpotovu na maneno yake ya kubembeleza.
So may she guard you from the woman who is an outsider, and from the stranger who sweetens her words.
6 Kwenye dirisha la nyumba yangu nilitazama nje kupitia upenyo kwenye mwimo wa dirisha.
For I gaze from the window of my house, through the lattice,
7 Niliona miongoni mwa wajinga, nikagundua miongoni mwa wanaume vijana, kijana asiye na akili.
and I see little ones. I consider a frenzied youth,
8 Alikuwa akishuka njiani karibu na pembe ya kwake, akielekea kwenye nyumba ya huyo mwanamke
who crosses the street at the corner and close to the way of that house.
9 wakati wa machweo, jua likipungua nuru yake, giza la usiku lilipokuwa likiingia.
He steps into shadows, as day becomes evening, into the darkness and gloom of the night.
10 Ndipo huyo mwanamke akatoka kumlaki, hali amevaa kama kahaba akiwa na nia ya udanganyifu.
And behold, a woman meets him, dressed like a harlot, prepared to captivate souls: chattering and rambling,
11 (Ni mwanamke mwenye makelele na mkaidi, miguu yake haitulii nyumbani;
unwilling to bear silence, unable to keep her feet at home,
12 mara kwenye barabara za mji, mara kwenye viwanja vikubwa, kwenye kila pembe huvizia.)
now outside, now in the streets, now lying in ambush near the corners.
13 Huyo mwanamke alimkumbatia kijana na kumbusu, na kwa uso usio na haya akamwambia:
And overtaking the youth, she kisses him, and with a provocative face, she flatters him, saying:
14 “Nina sadaka za amani nyumbani; leo nimetimiza nadhiri zangu.
“I vowed sacrifices for well-being. Today I have repaid my vows.
15 Kwa hiyo nimetoka nje kukulaki; nimekutafuta na nimekupata!
Because of this, I have gone out to meet you, desiring to see you, and I have found you.
16 Nimetandika kitanda changu kwa kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
I have woven my bed with cords. I have strewn it with embroidered tapestries from Egypt.
17 Nimetia manukato kitanda changu kwa manemane, udi na mdalasini.
I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloe, and cinnamon.
18 Njoo, tuzame katika mapenzi mpaka asubuhi; tujifurahishe wenyewe kwa mapenzi!
Come, let us be inebriated in abundance, and let us delight in the embraces of desire, until the day begins to dawn.
19 Mume wangu hayupo nyumbani; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
For my husband is not in his house. He has gone away on a very long journey.
20 Amechukua mkoba uliojazwa fedha na hatakuwepo nyumbani karibuni.”
He took with him a bag of money. He will return to his house on the day of the full moon.”
21 Kwa maneno laini yule mwanamke akampotosha; alimshawishi kwa maneno yake laini.
She enmeshed him with many words, and she drew him forward with the flattery of her lips.
22 Mara huyo kijana alimfuata yule mwanamke kama fahali aendaye machinjoni, kama kulungu aingiaye kwenye kitanzi,
Immediately, he follows her, like an ox being led to the sacrifice, and like a lamb acting lasciviously, and not knowing that he is being drawn foolishly into chains,
23 mpaka mshale umchome ini lake, kama ndege anayenaswa kwenye mtego, bila kujua itamgharimu maisha yake.
until the arrow pierces his liver. It is just as if a bird were to hurry into the snare. And he does not know that his actions endanger his own soul.
24 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; sikilizeni kwa makini nisemalo.
Therefore, my son, hear me now, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Usiruhusu moyo wako ugeukie njia za huyo mwanamke, wala usitangetange katika mapito yake.
Do not let your mind be pulled into her ways. And do not be deceived by her paths.
26 Aliowaangusha ni wengi; aliowachinja ni kundi kubwa.
For she has tossed aside many wounded, and some of those who were very strong have been slain by her.
