Mithali 4
1 Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
Listen, sons, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so you will know what understanding is.
2 Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
I am giving you good instructions; do not forsake my teaching.
3 Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
When I was a son of my father, the tender and 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 to me, “Let your heart hold fast to my words; keep my commands and live.
5 Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
Acquire wisdom and understanding; do not forget and do not reject the words of my mouth;
6 usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
do not abandon wisdom and she will watch over you; love her and she will keep you safe.
7 Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
Wisdom is the most important thing, so acquire wisdom and spend all you own so you can get understanding.
8 Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
Cherish wisdom and she will exalt you; she will honor you when you embrace her.
9 Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
She will put a wreath of honor on your head; she will give you a beautiful crown.”
10 Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
Listen, my son, and pay attention to my words, and you will have many years in your life.
11 Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
I direct you in the way of wisdom; I lead you down straight paths.
12 Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
When you walk, no one will stand in your way and if you run, you will not stumble.
13 Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it, for it is your life.
14 Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
Do not follow the path of the wicked and do not go along the way of those who do evil.
15 Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it and go another way.
16 Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
For they cannot sleep until they do evil and they are robbed of sleep until they cause someone to stumble.
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 righteous people is like the first light that grows brighter; it shines more and more until the fullness of the day comes.
19 Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
The way of the wicked is like darkness— they do not know what it is they stumble over.
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 let them turn away from your eyes; keep them in your heart.
22 Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
For my words are life to those who find them and health to their whole body.
23 Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
Keep your heart safe and guard it with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
24 Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
Put crooked speech away from you and put corrupt talk far from you.
25 Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
Let your eyes look straight ahead and fix your gaze straight before you.
26 Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
Make a level path for your foot; then all your ways will be secure.
27 Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
Do not turn aside to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
