Mithali 4
1 Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, And attend, that ye may learn understanding!
2 Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
For I give you good instruction; Forsake ye not my commandments.
3 Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
For I was my father's son, A tender and only child in the sight of my mother.
4 baba alinifundisha akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
He taught me, and said to me, Let thy heart hold fast my words; Keep my commandments, and live.
5 Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, and depart not from, the words of my mouth.
6 usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
Forsake her not, and she will guard thee: Love her, and she will preserve thee.
7 Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore gain wisdom, And with all thy gain, gain understanding.
8 Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her;
9 Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
She will give to thy head a graceful wreath, A beautiful crown will she bestow upon thee.
10 Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
Hear, O my son! and receive my sayings! So shall the years of thy life be many.
11 Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
I have taught thee the way of wisdom, I have guided thee in the right path.
12 Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be confined; And, when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
Take fast hold of instruction; 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 go not in the way of evil men;
15 Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
Avoid it, pass not upon it, Turn from it, and go away.
16 Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
For they sleep not, unless they have done mischief; Yea, their sleep is taken away, unless they have caused some to 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.
But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, Which groweth brighter and brighter unto the perfect day.
19 Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
The way of the wicked is as thick darkness; They know not at what they stumble.
20 Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear to my sayings;
21 Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep 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 to those who find them, And health to all their flesh.
23 Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
More than any thing which thou watchest, watch thy heart; For from it goeth forth life.
24 Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
Put away from thee a deceitful mouth, And remove far from thee perverse lips.
25 Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
Let thine eyes look straight forward, And thine eyelids be directed before thee.
26 Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
Give heed to the path of thy foot, And let all thy ways be steadfast.
27 Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
Turn not to the right hand or to the left; Remove thy foot from evil.
