Mithali 2
1 Mwanangu, kama ukiyapokea maneno yangu na kuzitunza amri zangu,
My son, if thou dost accept my sayings, And my commands dost lay up with thee,
2 usikilize hekima na utaelekeza moyo wako katika ufahamu.
To cause thine ear to attend to wisdom, Thou inclinest thy heart to understanding,
3 kama utalilia ufahamu na kupaza sauti yako kwa ajili ya ufahamu,
For, if for intelligence thou callest, For understanding givest forth thy voice,
4 kama utautafuta kama fedha na kupekua ufahamu kama unatafuta hazina iliyojificha,
If thou dost seek her as silver, And as hid treasures searchest for her,
5 ndipo utakapofahamu hofu ya Yehova na utapata maarifa ya Mungu.
Then understandest thou fear of Jehovah, And knowledge of God thou findest.
6 Kwa kuwa Yohova hutoa hekima, katika kinywa chake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu.
For Jehovah giveth wisdom, From His mouth knowledge and understanding.
7 Yeye huhifadhi sauti ya hekima kwa wale wampendezao, yeye ni ngao kwa wale waendao katika uadilifu,
Even to lay up for the upright substance, A shield for those walking uprightly.
8 huongoza katika njia za haki na atalinda njia ya waaminifu kwake.
To keep the paths of judgment, And the way of His saints He preserveth.
9 Ndipo utakapoelewa wema, haki, usawa na kila njia njema.
Then understandest thou righteousness, And judgment, and uprightness — every good path.
10 Maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako na maarifa yataipendeza nafsi yako.
For wisdom cometh into thy heart, And knowledge to thy soul is pleasant,
11 Busara itakulinda, ufahamu utakuongoza.
Thoughtfulness doth watch over thee, Understanding doth keep thee,
12 Vitakuokoa kutoka katika njia ya uovu, kutoka kwa wale waongeao mambo potovu.
To deliver thee from an evil way, From any speaking froward things,
13 Ambao huziacha njia za wema na kutembea katika njia za giza.
Who are forsaking paths of uprightness, To walk in ways of darkness,
14 Hufurahia wanapotenda maovu na hupendezwa katika upotovu.
Who are rejoicing to do evil, They delight in frowardness of the wicked,
15 Hufuata njia za udanganyifu na kwa kutumia ghilba huficha mapito yao.
Whose paths [are] crooked, Yea, they are perverted in their ways.
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, From the stranger who hath made smooth her sayings,
17 Yeye humwacha mwenzi wa ujana wake na kusahau agano la Mungu wake.
Who is forsaking the guide of her youth, And the covenant of her God hath forgotten.
18 Maana nyumba yake huinama na kufa na mapito yake yatakupeleka kwa wale walioko kaburini.
For her house hath inclined unto death, And unto Rephaim her paths.
19 Wote waiendeao njia yake hawatarudi tena na wala hawataziona njia za uzima.
None going in unto her turn back, Nor do they reach the paths of life.
20 kwa hiyo utatembea katika njia ya watu wema na kufuata njia za wale watendao mema.
That thou dost go in the way of the good, And the paths of the righteous dost keep.
21 Kwa wale watendao mema watafanya makazi yao katika nchi, na wale wenye uadilifu watadumu katika nchi.
For the upright do inhabit the earth, And the perfect are left in it,
22 Lakini waovu wataondolewa katika nchi na wale wasioamini wataondolewa katika nchi.
And the wicked from the earth are cut off, And treacherous dealers plucked out of it!
