Mithali 7
1 Mwanangu, shika maneno yangu na kuzihifadhi amri zangu ndani yako.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Shika amri zangu nawe utaishi; linda mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho lako.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thy eye.
3 Yafunge katika vidole vyako; yaandike katika kibao cha moyo wako.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thy heart.
4 Mwambie hekima, “Wewe ni dada yangu,” uite ufahamu jamaa yako;
Say to wisdom, Thou [art] my sister; and call understanding [thy] kinswoman:
5 watakuepusha na mwanamke mzinzi, kutokana na mwanamke mpotovu na maneno yake ya kubembeleza.
That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger [which] flattereth with her words.
6 Kwenye dirisha la nyumba yangu nilitazama nje kupitia upenyo kwenye mwimo wa dirisha.
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 Niliona miongoni mwa wajinga, nikagundua miongoni mwa wanaume vijana, kijana asiye na akili.
And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
8 Alikuwa akishuka njiani karibu na pembe ya kwake, akielekea kwenye nyumba ya huyo mwanamke
Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house.
9 wakati wa machweo, jua likipungua nuru yake, giza la usiku lilipokuwa likiingia.
In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
10 Ndipo huyo mwanamke akatoka kumlaki, hali amevaa kama kahaba akiwa na nia ya udanganyifu.
And behold, there met him a woman [with] the attire of a harlot, and subtil of heart.
11 (Ni mwanamke mwenye makelele na mkaidi, miguu yake haitulii nyumbani;
(She [is] loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 mara kwenye barabara za mji, mara kwenye viwanja vikubwa, kwenye kila pembe huvizia.)
Now [is she] without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
13 Huyo mwanamke alimkumbatia kijana na kumbusu, na kwa uso usio na haya akamwambia:
So she caught him, and kissed him, [and] with an impudent face said to him,
14 “Nina sadaka za amani nyumbani; leo nimetimiza nadhiri zangu.
[I have] peace-offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows.
15 Kwa hiyo nimetoka nje kukulaki; nimekutafuta na nimekupata!
Therefore I came forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
16 Nimetandika kitanda changu kwa kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved [works], with fine linen of Egypt.
17 Nimetia manukato kitanda changu kwa manemane, udi na mdalasini.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Njoo, tuzame katika mapenzi mpaka asubuhi; tujifurahishe wenyewe kwa mapenzi!
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 Mume wangu hayupo nyumbani; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
For the good-man [is] not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 Amechukua mkoba uliojazwa fedha na hatakuwepo nyumbani karibuni.”
He hath taken a bag of money with him, [and] will come home at the day appointed.
21 Kwa maneno laini yule mwanamke akampotosha; alimshawishi kwa maneno yake laini.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she impelled him.
22 Mara huyo kijana alimfuata yule mwanamke kama fahali aendaye machinjoni, kama kulungu aingiaye kwenye kitanzi,
He goeth after her quickly, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 mpaka mshale umchome ini lake, kama ndege anayenaswa kwenye mtego, bila kujua itamgharimu maisha yake.
Till a dart striketh through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it [is] for his life.
24 Sasa basi wanangu, nisikilizeni; sikilizeni kwa makini nisemalo.
Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Usiruhusu moyo wako ugeukie njia za huyo mwanamke, wala usitangetange katika mapito yake.
Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 Aliowaangusha ni wengi; aliowachinja ni kundi kubwa.
For she hath cast down many wounded: yes, many strong [men] have been slain by her.
