Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, zingatia hekima yangu; sikiliza kwa makini ufahamu wangu,
[My] son, attend to my wisdom, and apply thine ear to my words;
2 ili ujifunze busara na midomo yako iweze kuhifadhi maarifa.
that thou mayest keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives thee a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;
3 Maana midomo ya malaya hutiririsha asali na kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta,
for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases thy palate:
4 lakini mwishoni anakuwa mchungu kama mnyoo, hukata kama upunga mkali.
but afterwards thou wilt find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.
For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established. (Sheol h7585)
6 Hafikirii njia ya uzima. Hatua za miguu yake hupotea, maana hajui anakwenda wapi.
For she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.
7 Sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; wala msiache kusikiliza maneno ya kinywa changu.
Now then, [my] son, hear me, and make not my words of none effect.
8 Lindeni njia yenu mbali naye wala msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake.
Remove thy way far from her; draw not near to the doors of her house:
9 Kwa njia hiyo hamtawapa wengine heshima yenu au miaka ya uzima wenu kwa mtu mkatiri;
lest thou give away thy life to others, and thy substance to the merciless:
10 wageni usije kufanya karamu kwa utajiri wenu; kazi mliyoifanya haitaenda katika nyumba ya wageni.
lest strangers be filled with thy strength, and thy labours come into the houses of strangers;
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yenu mtajuta ambapo nyama na mwili wenu vitaangamia.
And thou repent at last, when the flesh of thy body is consumed,
12 Nanyi mtasema, “Namna gani nilichukia fundisho na moyo wangu ulidharau sahihisho!
and thou shalt say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart avoided reproofs!
13 Sikuweza kuwatii walimu wangu au kuwasikiliza walionielekeza.
I heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, neither did I apply mine ear.
14 Nilikuwa nimeharibika kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko, miongoni mwa makutano ya watu.”
I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
15 Munywe maji kutoka kwenye birika lenu mwenyewe na munywe maji yanatiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chenu.
Drink waters out of thine own vessels, and out of thine own springing wells.
16 Je inapaswa chemichemi yenu ifurike popote na mifereji yenu ya maji itiririke katika njia kuu?
Let not waters out of thy fountain be spilt by thee, but let thy waters go into thy streets.
17 Yawe yenu wenyewe peke yenu wala si kwa wageni.
Let them be only thine own, and let no stranger partake with thee.
18 Chemichemi yako ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let thy fountain of water be [truly] thine own; and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
19 Maana ni ayala apendezaye na kulungu mwenye uzuri. Matiti yake na yakujaze furaha muda wote; daima na utekwe na upendo wake.
Let [thy] loving hart and thy graceful colt company with thee, and let her be considered thine own, and be with thee at all times; for ravished with her love thou shalt be greatly increased.
20 Mwanangu, kwa nini uwe mateka wa malaya, kwa nini uyakumbatie matiti ya mwanamke mgeni?
Be not intimate with a strange woman, neither fold thyself in the arms of a woman not thine own.
21 Yehova huona kila kitu afanyacho mtu na huangalia mapito yake yote.
For the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, and he looks on all his paths.
22 Mtu mwovu atatekwa na makosa yake mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake zitamnasa kwa nguvu.
Iniquities ensnare a man, and every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa maonyo; atapotelea mbali kwa upumbavu wake wingi.
Such a man dies with the uninstructed; and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.
