Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama ukiyapokea maneno yangu na kuzitunza amri zangu,
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and lay up my commandments with thee;
2 usikilize hekima na utaelekeza moyo wako katika ufahamu.
So that thou make thine ear attend unto wisdom, and thy heart incline to discernment;
3 kama utalilia ufahamu na kupaza sauti yako kwa ajili ya ufahamu,
Yea, if thou call for understanding, and lift up thy voice for discernment;
4 kama utautafuta kama fedha na kupekua ufahamu kama unatafuta hazina iliyojificha,
If thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures;
5 ndipo utakapofahamu hofu ya Yehova na utapata maarifa ya Mungu.
Then shalt thou 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 giveth wisdom, out of His mouth cometh knowledge and discernment;
7 Yeye huhifadhi sauti ya hekima kwa wale wampendezao, yeye ni ngao kwa wale waendao katika uadilifu,
He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright, He is a shield to them that walk in integrity;
8 huongoza katika njia za haki na atalinda njia ya waaminifu kwake.
That He may guard the paths of justice, and preserve the way of His godly ones.
9 Ndipo utakapoelewa wema, haki, usawa na kila njia njema.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, and equity, yea, every good path.
10 Maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako na maarifa yataipendeza nafsi yako.
For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, and knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;
11 Busara itakulinda, ufahamu utakuongoza.
Discretion shall watch over thee, discernment shall guard thee;
12 Vitakuokoa kutoka katika njia ya uovu, kutoka kwa wale waongeao mambo potovu.
To deliver thee from the way of evil, from the men that speak froward things;
13 Ambao huziacha njia za wema na kutembea katika njia za giza.
Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
14 Hufurahia wanapotenda maovu na hupendezwa katika upotovu.
Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of evil;
15 Hufuata njia za udanganyifu na kwa kutumia ghilba huficha mapito yao.
Who are crooked in their ways, and perverse in their paths;
16 Busara na hekima zitakuokoa kutoka kwa mwanamke malaya, kutoka kwa mwanamke anayetafuta visa na mwenye maneno ya kubembeleza.
To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the alien woman that maketh smooth her words;
17 Yeye humwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kusahau agano la Mungu wake.
That forsaketh the lord of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
18 Maana nyumba yake huinama na kufa na mapito yake yatakupeleka kwa wale walioko kaburini.
For her house sinketh down unto death, and her paths unto the shades;
19 Wote waiendeao njia yake hawatarudi tena na wala hawataziona njia za uzima.
None that go unto her return, neither do they attain unto the paths of life;
20 kwa hiyo utatembea katika njia ya watu wema na kufuata njia za wale watendao mema.
That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
21 Kwa wale watendao mema watafanya makazi yao katika nchi, na wale wenye uadilifu watadumu katika nchi.
For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the whole-hearted shall remain in it.
22 Lakini waovu wataondolewa katika nchi na wale wasioamini wataondolewa katika nchi.
But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, and the faithless shall be plucked up out of it.
