Mithali 4
1 Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
Heare, O ye children, the instruction of a father, and giue eare to learne vnderstanding.
2 Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
For I doe giue you a good doctrine: therefore forsake yee not my lawe.
3 Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
For I was my fathers sonne, tender and deare in the sight of my mother,
4 baba alinifundisha akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
When he taught me, and sayde vnto me, Let thine heart holde fast my woordes: keepe my commandements, and thou shalt liue.
5 Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
Get wisedom: get vnderstading: forget not, neither decline from the woordes of my mouth.
6 usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
Forsake her not, and shee shall keepe thee: loue her and shee shall preserue thee.
7 Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
Wisedome is the beginning: get wisedome therefore: and aboue all thy possession get vnderstanding.
8 Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
Exalt her, and she shall exalt thee: she shall bring thee to honour, if thou embrace her.
9 Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
She shall giue a comely ornamet vnto thine head, yea, she shall giue thee a crowne of glorie.
10 Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
Heare, my sonne, and receiue my wordes, and the yeeres of thy life shalbe many.
11 Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
I haue taught thee in ye way of wisedom, and led thee in the pathes of righteousnesse.
12 Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
Whe thou goest, thy gate shall not be strait, and when thou runnest, thou shalt not fall.
13 Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
Take holde of instruction, and leaue not: keepe her, for shee is thy life.
14 Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
Enter not into the way of the wicked, and walke not in the way of euill men.
15 Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
Auoide it, and goe not by it: turne from it, and passe by.
16 Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
For they can not sleepe, except they haue done euill, and their sleepe departeth except they cause some to fall.
17 Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu na hunywa divai ya vurugu.
For they eate the breade of wickednesse, and drinke 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.
But the way of the righteous shineth as the light, that shineth more and more vnto the perfite day.
19 Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
The way of the wicked is as the darkenes: they knowe not wherein they shall fall.
20 Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
My sonne, hearken vnto my wordes, incline thine eare vnto my sayings.
21 Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
Let them not depart from thine eyes, but keepe them in the middes of thine heart.
22 Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
For they are life vnto those that find them, and health vnto all their flesh.
23 Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
Keepe thine heart with all diligence: for thereout commeth life.
24 Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and put wicked lippes farre from thee.
25 Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
Let thine eyes beholde the right, and let thine eyelids direct thy way before thee.
26 Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
Ponder the path of thy feete, and let all thy waies be ordred aright.
27 Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
Turne not to the right hande, nor to the left, but remooue thy foote from euill.
