Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama ukiyapokea maneno yangu na kuzitunza amri zangu,
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and treasure my commandments with thee;
2 usikilize hekima na utaelekeza moyo wako katika ufahamu.
So that thou incline thy ear to wisdom, and apply thy heart to understanding;
3 kama utalilia ufahamu na kupaza sauti yako kwa ajili ya ufahamu,
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
4 kama utautafuta kama fedha na kupekua ufahamu kama unatafuta hazina iliyojificha,
If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest 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 understanding.
7 Yeye huhifadhi sauti ya hekima kwa wale wampendezao, yeye ni ngao kwa wale waendao katika uadilifu,
He layeth up sound wisdom 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 keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
9 Ndipo utakapoelewa wema, haki, usawa na kila njia njema.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; and, 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 shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
12 Vitakuokoa kutoka katika njia ya uovu, kutoka kwa wale waongeao mambo potovu.
To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh perverse 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 perverseness of the wicked;
15 Hufuata njia za udanganyifu na kwa kutumia ghilba huficha mapito yao.
Whose ways are crooked, and they are 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 adulteress who flattereth with her words;
17 Yeye humwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kusahau agano la Mungu wake.
Who forsaketh the guide 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 inclineth to death, and her paths to the dead.
19 Wote waiendeao njia yake hawatarudi tena na wala hawataziona njia za uzima.
None that go to her return again, neither do they take hold of 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 perfect 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 earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
