Mithali 7
1 Mwanangu, shika maneno yangu na kuzihifadhi amri zangu ndani yako.
My son! Keep my sayings, And lay up my commands with you.
2 Shika amri zangu nawe utaishi; linda mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho lako.
Keep my commands, and live, And my law as the pupil of your eye.
3 Yafunge katika vidole vyako; yaandike katika kibao cha moyo wako.
Bind them on your fingers, Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Mwambie hekima, “Wewe ni dada yangu,” uite ufahamu jamaa yako;
Say to wisdom, “You [are] my sister.” And cry to understanding, “Relative!”
5 watakuepusha na mwanamke mzinzi, kutokana na mwanamke mpotovu na maneno yake ya kubembeleza.
To preserve you from a strange woman, From a stranger who has made her sayings smooth.
6 Kwenye dirisha la nyumba yangu nilitazama nje kupitia upenyo kwenye mwimo wa dirisha.
For at a window of my house, I have looked out through my casement,
7 Niliona miongoni mwa wajinga, nikagundua miongoni mwa wanaume vijana, kijana asiye na akili.
And I see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding,
8 Alikuwa akishuka njiani karibu na pembe ya kwake, akielekea kwenye nyumba ya huyo mwanamke
Passing on in the street, near her corner, And the way [to] her house he steps,
9 wakati wa machweo, jua likipungua nuru yake, giza la usiku lilipokuwa likiingia.
In the twilight—in the evening of day, In the darkness of night and blackness.
10 Ndipo huyo mwanamke akatoka kumlaki, hali amevaa kama kahaba akiwa na nia ya udanganyifu.
And behold, a woman to meet him—(A harlot’s dress, and watchful of heart,
11 (Ni mwanamke mwenye makelele na mkaidi, miguu yake haitulii nyumbani;
She [is] noisy, and stubborn, her feet do not rest in her house.
12 mara kwenye barabara za mji, mara kwenye viwanja vikubwa, kwenye kila pembe huvizia.)
Now in an out-place, now in broad places, And she lies in wait near every corner)—
13 Huyo mwanamke alimkumbatia kijana na kumbusu, na kwa uso usio na haya akamwambia:
And she laid hold on him and kissed him, She has hardened her face and says to him,
14 “Nina sadaka za amani nyumbani; leo nimetimiza nadhiri zangu.
“Sacrifices of peace-offerings [are] by me, Today I have completed my vows.
15 Kwa hiyo nimetoka nje kukulaki; nimekutafuta na nimekupata!
Therefore I have come forth to meet you, To earnestly seek your face, and I find you.
16 Nimetandika kitanda changu kwa kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
I decked my bed [with] ornamental coverings, Carved works—cotton of Egypt.
17 Nimetia manukato kitanda changu kwa manemane, udi na mdalasini.
I sprinkled my bed [with] myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Njoo, tuzame katika mapenzi mpaka asubuhi; tujifurahishe wenyewe kwa mapenzi!
Come, we are filled [with] love until the morning, We delight ourselves in loves.
19 Mume wangu hayupo nyumbani; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
For the man is not in his house, He has gone on a long journey.
20 Amechukua mkoba uliojazwa fedha na hatakuwepo nyumbani karibuni.”
He has taken a bag of money in his hand, At the day of the new moon he comes to his house.”
21 Kwa maneno laini yule mwanamke akampotosha; alimshawishi kwa maneno yake laini.
She turns him aside with the abundance of her speech, She forces him with the flattery of her lips.
22 Mara huyo kijana alimfuata yule mwanamke kama fahali aendaye machinjoni, kama kulungu aingiaye kwenye kitanzi,
He is going after her straight away, he comes as an ox to the slaughter, And as a chain to the discipline of a fool,
23 mpaka mshale umchome ini lake, kama ndege anayenaswa kwenye mtego, bila kujua itamgharimu maisha yake.
Until an arrow splits his liver, As a bird has hurried to a snare, And has not known that it [is] for its life.
24 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; sikilizeni kwa makini nisemalo.
And now, you sons, listen to me, And give attention to sayings of my mouth.
25 Usiruhusu moyo wako ugeukie njia za huyo mwanamke, wala usitangetange katika mapito yake.
Do not let your heart turn to her ways, Do not wander in her paths,
26 Aliowaangusha ni wengi; aliowachinja ni kundi kubwa.
For many [are] the wounded she caused to fall, And mighty [are] all her slain ones.
