Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama ukiyapokea maneno yangu na kuzitunza amri zangu,
Oh, my son, that thou wouldst receive my words, And treasure up my precepts within thee;
2 usikilize hekima na utaelekeza moyo wako katika ufahamu.
That thou wouldst apply thine ear to wisdom, And incline thy heart to understanding!
3 kama utalilia ufahamu na kupaza sauti yako kwa ajili ya ufahamu,
For if thou wilt call aloud to knowledge, And lift up thy voice to understanding, —
4 kama utautafuta kama fedha na kupekua ufahamu kama unatafuta hazina iliyojificha,
If thou wilt seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden 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; From his mouth proceed knowledge and understanding:
7 Yeye huhifadhi sauti ya hekima kwa wale wampendezao, yeye ni ngao kwa wale waendao katika uadilifu,
He layeth up safety for the righteous; He is a shield to them that walk uprightly:
8 huongoza katika njia za haki na atalinda njia ya waaminifu kwake.
He guardeth the paths of equity, And defendeth the way of his servants.
9 Ndipo utakapoelewa wema, haki, usawa na kila njia njema.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness and equity And uprightness, yea, every good path.
10 Maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako na maarifa yataipendeza nafsi yako.
When wisdom entereth into thy heart, And knowledge is pleasant to thy soul,
11 Busara itakulinda, ufahamu utakuongoza.
Discretion will guard thee, Understanding will preserve thee.
12 Vitakuokoa kutoka katika njia ya uovu, kutoka kwa wale waongeao mambo potovu.
It will deliver thee from the way of the wicked, 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 in doing evil, And delight in the perverseness of the wicked;
15 Hufuata njia za udanganyifu na kwa kutumia ghilba huficha mapito yao.
Whose paths are crooked, And who are froward in their ways.
16 Busara na hekima zitakuokoa kutoka kwa mwanamke malaya, kutoka kwa mwanamke anayetafuta visa na mwenye maneno ya kubembeleza.
It will deliver thee from the wife of another, From the stranger, who useth smooth words;
17 Yeye humwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kusahau agano la Mungu wake.
Who forsaketh the friend 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 to Death, And her paths to the shades of the dead:
19 Wote waiendeao njia yake hawatarudi tena na wala hawataziona njia za uzima.
None that go to her return again; They will not attain the paths of life.
20 kwa hiyo utatembea katika njia ya watu wema na kufuata njia za wale watendao mema.
Therefore walk thou 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 righteous 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 transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
