Mithali 4
1 Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
Hear, ye children, the correction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
For good information do I give you: my teaching must ye not forsake.
3 Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
For I was a son unto my father, a tender and an only child before my mother.
4 baba alinifundisha akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
And he instructed me, and said unto me, Let thy heart grasp firmly my words: observe my commandments and live.
5 Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding: forget not, and depart not from the sayings of my mouth.
6 usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
Forsake her not, and she will watch over thee: love her, and she will keep thee.
7 Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
The beginning of wisdom is, Acquire wisdom: and with all thy acquisition acquire understanding.
8 Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
Hold her in high esteem, and she will exalt thee: she will bring thee to honor, when thou embracest her.
9 Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
She will give to thy head a wreath of grace: a crown of ornament will she deliver to thee.
10 Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
Hear, O my son, and accept my sayings: and they will increase unto thee the years of life.
11 Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
In the way of wisdom have I instructed thee: I have led thee in the tracks of uprightness.
12 Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
When thou walkest, thy step shall not be narrowed; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
Lay fast hold of correction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
14 Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and step not on the way of the bad.
15 Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
Avoid it, pass not through by it, turn off from it, and pass away.
16 Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
For they sleep not, except they have done evil, and their sleep is robbed away, unless they cause some to stumble.
17 Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu na hunywa divai ya vurugu.
For they eat the bread of wickedness; and the wine of violence do they drink.
18 Bali njia ya mwenye kutenda haki ni kama mwanga ung'aao, huangaza zaidi na zaidi hadi mchana inapowasili kwa ukamilifu.
But the path of the righteous is as the early morning light, that shineth more and more brightly until the height of noonday.
19 Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
The way of the wicked is like darkness: they know not against what they stumble.
20 Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
My son, attend to my words, unto my sayings incline thy ear.
21 Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
Let them not slip away from thy eyes: guard them in the midst of thy heart.
22 Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
For they are life unto every one of those that find them, and to all his body a healing.
23 Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
Above all that is to be guarded, keep thy heart, for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
Remove from thee frowardness of mouth; and perverseness of lips put away far from thee.
25 Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
Let thy eyes look right forward, and let thy eyelids see straight out before thee.
26 Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
Balance well the track of thy foot, and let all thy ways be firmly right.
27 Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
