Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama ukiyapokea maneno yangu na kuzitunza amri zangu,
My son, if you will receive my words, and store up my commandments within you;
2 usikilize hekima na utaelekeza moyo wako katika ufahamu.
So as to turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding;
3 kama utalilia ufahamu na kupaza sauti yako kwa ajili ya ufahamu,
Yes, if you call out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding;
4 kama utautafuta kama fedha na kupekua ufahamu kama unatafuta hazina iliyojificha,
If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures:
5 ndipo utakapofahamu hofu ya Yehova na utapata maarifa ya Mungu.
then you will understand the fear of YHWH, and find the knowledge of God.
6 Kwa kuwa Yohova hutoa hekima, katika kinywa chake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu.
For YHWH gives wisdom. Out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
7 Yeye huhifadhi sauti ya hekima kwa wale wampendezao, yeye ni ngao kwa wale waendao katika uadilifu,
He lays up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who 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 faithful ones.
9 Ndipo utakapoelewa wema, haki, usawa na kila njia njema.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path.
10 Maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako na maarifa yataipendeza nafsi yako.
For wisdom will enter into your heart. Knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Busara itakulinda, ufahamu utakuongoza.
Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will keep you,
12 Vitakuokoa kutoka katika njia ya uovu, kutoka kwa wale waongeao mambo potovu.
to deliver you from the way of evil, from the men who speak perverse things;
13 Ambao huziacha njia za wema na kutembea katika njia za giza.
who forsake 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 perverseness of evil;
15 Hufuata njia za udanganyifu na kwa kutumia ghilba huficha mapito yao.
who are crooked in their ways, and wayward in their paths:
16 Busara na hekima zitakuokoa kutoka kwa mwanamke malaya, kutoka kwa mwanamke anayetafuta visa na mwenye maneno ya kubembeleza.
To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the foreigner who flatters with her words;
17 Yeye humwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kusahau agano la Mungu wake.
who forsakes the friend of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God:
18 Maana nyumba yake huinama na kufa na mapito yake yatakupeleka kwa wale walioko kaburini.
for her house leads down to death, her paths to the dead.
19 Wote waiendeao njia yake hawatarudi tena na wala hawataziona njia za uzima.
None who go to her return again, neither do they attain to the paths of life:
20 kwa hiyo utatembea katika njia ya watu wema na kufuata njia za wale watendao mema.
that you may 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 will dwell in the land. The perfect will remain in it.
22 Lakini waovu wataondolewa katika nchi na wale wasioamini wataondolewa katika nchi.
But the wicked will be cut off from the land. The treacherous will be uprooted out of it.
