Mithali 4
1 Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
3 Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
4 baba alinifundisha akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
6 usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
7 Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
8 Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
9 Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
10 Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
11 Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
12 Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14 Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
16 Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
17 Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu na hunywa divai ya vurugu.
For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 Bali njia ya mwenye kutenda haki ni kama mwanga ung'aao, huangaza zaidi na zaidi hadi mchana inapowasili kwa ukamilifu.
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
22 Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
23 Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
24 Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
25 Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
26 Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
27 Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
