Mithali 4
1 Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
2 Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
3 Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
4 baba alinifundisha akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
5 Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
6 usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
7 Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
The first thing [is] wisdom — get wisdom, And with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
9 Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
10 Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
11 Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
12 Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
13 Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
14 Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
15 Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
16 Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
17 Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu na hunywa divai ya vurugu.
For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
18 Bali njia ya mwenye kutenda haki ni kama mwanga ung'aao, huangaza zaidi na zaidi hadi mchana inapowasili kwa ukamilifu.
And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
19 Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
The way of the wicked [is] as darkness, They have not known at what they stumble.
20 Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
21 Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
22 Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
23 Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
24 Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
Turn aside from thee a froward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee,
25 Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
27 Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
