Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama ukiyapokea maneno yangu na kuzitunza amri zangu,
[My] son, if you will receive the utterance of my commandment, and hide it with you;
2 usikilize hekima na utaelekeza moyo wako katika ufahamu.
your ear shall listen to wisdom; you shall also apply your heart to understanding, and shall apply it to the instruction of your son.
3 kama utalilia ufahamu na kupaza sauti yako kwa ajili ya ufahamu,
For it you shall call to wisdom, and utter your voice for understanding;
4 kama utautafuta kama fedha na kupekua ufahamu kama unatafuta hazina iliyojificha,
and if you shall seek it as silver, and search diligently for it as for treasures;
5 ndipo utakapofahamu hofu ya Yehova na utapata maarifa ya Mungu.
then shall you understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
6 Kwa kuwa Yohova hutoa hekima, katika kinywa chake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu.
For the Lord gives wisdom; and from his presence [come] knowledge and understanding,
7 Yeye huhifadhi sauti ya hekima kwa wale wampendezao, yeye ni ngao kwa wale waendao katika uadilifu,
and he treasures up salvation for them that walk uprightly: he will protect their way;
8 huongoza katika njia za haki na atalinda njia ya waaminifu kwake.
that he may guard the righteous ways: and he will preserve the way of them that fear him.
9 Ndipo utakapoelewa wema, haki, usawa na kila njia njema.
Then shall you understand righteousness, and judgement; and shall direct all your course aright.
10 Maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako na maarifa yataipendeza nafsi yako.
For if wisdom shall come into your understanding, and discernment shall seem pleasing to your soul,
11 Busara itakulinda, ufahamu utakuongoza.
good counsel shall guard you, and holy understanding shall keep you;
12 Vitakuokoa kutoka katika njia ya uovu, kutoka kwa wale waongeao mambo potovu.
to deliver you from the evil way, and from the man that speaks nothing faithfully.
13 Ambao huziacha njia za wema na kutembea katika njia za giza.
Alas [for those] who forsake right paths, to walk in ways of darkness;
14 Hufurahia wanapotenda maovu na hupendezwa katika upotovu.
who rejoice in evils, and delight in wicked perverseness;
15 Hufuata njia za udanganyifu na kwa kutumia ghilba huficha mapito yao.
whose paths are crooked, and their courses winding;
16 Busara na hekima zitakuokoa kutoka kwa mwanamke malaya, kutoka kwa mwanamke anayetafuta visa na mwenye maneno ya kubembeleza.
to remove you far from the straight way, and to estrange you from a righteous purpose. [My] son, let not evil counsel overtake you,
17 Yeye humwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kusahau agano la Mungu wake.
[of her] who has forsaken the instruction of her youth, and forgotten the covenant of God.
18 Maana nyumba yake huinama na kufa na mapito yake yatakupeleka kwa wale walioko kaburini.
For she has fixed her house near death, and [guided] her wheels near Hades with the giants.
19 Wote waiendeao njia yake hawatarudi tena na wala hawataziona njia za uzima.
None that go by her shall return, neither shall they take hold of right paths, for they are not apprehended of the years of life.
20 kwa hiyo utatembea katika njia ya watu wema na kufuata njia za wale watendao mema.
For had they gone in good paths, they would have found the paths of righteousness easy.
21 Kwa wale watendao mema watafanya makazi yao katika nchi, na wale wenye uadilifu watadumu katika nchi.
For the upright shall dwell in the earth, and the holy shall be left behind in it.
22 Lakini waovu wataondolewa katika nchi na wale wasioamini wataondolewa katika nchi.
The paths of the ungodly shall perish out of the earth, and transgressors shall be driven away from it.
