Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, zingatia hekima yangu; sikiliza kwa makini ufahamu wangu,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen carefully as I explain what makes sense,
2 ili ujifunze busara na midomo yako iweze kuhifadhi maarifa.
so you can make good decisions and protect knowledge with your lips.
3 Maana midomo ya malaya hutiririsha asali na kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta,
For the lips of an immoral woman may taste as sweet as honey, the kisses of her mouth may be as smooth as oil,
4 lakini mwishoni anakuwa mchungu kama mnyoo, hukata kama upunga mkali.
but in the end what you get from her is the bitterness of wormwood and the sharp pain of being cut with a two-edged sword.
She leads you down to death; she takes you down to the grave. (Sheol h7585)
6 Hafikirii njia ya uzima. Hatua za miguu yake hupotea, maana hajui anakwenda wapi.
She doesn't follow the path that leads to life—she wanders away and doesn't even know she's lost.
7 Sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; wala msiache kusikiliza maneno ya kinywa changu.
Now, my son, listen to me; don't reject what I have taught you.
8 Lindeni njia yenu mbali naye wala msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake.
Stay far away from her! Don't go near the door of her house!
9 Kwa njia hiyo hamtawapa wengine heshima yenu au miaka ya uzima wenu kwa mtu mkatiri;
Otherwise you'll surrender your honor to others, and your character to cruel people.
10 wageni usije kufanya karamu kwa utajiri wenu; kazi mliyoifanya haitaenda katika nyumba ya wageni.
Strangers will spend your wealth; everything you've worked for will go to someone else.
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yenu mtajuta ambapo nyama na mwili wenu vitaangamia.
When you come to the end of your life you'll moan in pain as disease destroys your body.
12 Nanyi mtasema, “Namna gani nilichukia fundisho na moyo wangu ulidharau sahihisho!
You'll say, “How I used to hate discipline, and my mind rebelled against being corrected!
13 Sikuweza kuwatii walimu wangu au kuwasikiliza walionielekeza.
I didn't listen to what my teacher said. I didn't pay attention to my instructors.
14 Nilikuwa nimeharibika kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko, miongoni mwa makutano ya watu.”
Now I'm on the verge of being completely disgraced before everyone in the community.”
15 Munywe maji kutoka kwenye birika lenu mwenyewe na munywe maji yanatiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chenu.
Drink water from your own cistern, flowing water from your own well.
16 Je inapaswa chemichemi yenu ifurike popote na mifereji yenu ya maji itiririke katika njia kuu?
Why should your springs be spilled outside, your streams of water poured out in the streets?
17 Yawe yenu wenyewe peke yenu wala si kwa wageni.
Keep them for yourselves alone. They're not for you to share with strangers.
18 Chemichemi yako ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
May your spring of water be blessed, and may you enjoy the wife you married when you were young.
19 Maana ni ayala apendezaye na kulungu mwenye uzuri. Matiti yake na yakujaze furaha muda wote; daima na utekwe na upendo wake.
May she be to you a loving deer, a graceful doe. May her breasts always be intoxicating to you; may you be drunk on her love forever.
20 Mwanangu, kwa nini uwe mateka wa malaya, kwa nini uyakumbatie matiti ya mwanamke mgeni?
Why, my son, become intoxicated with an immoral woman? Why embrace the breasts of a woman who acts like a prostitute?
21 Yehova huona kila kitu afanyacho mtu na huangalia mapito yake yote.
For the Lord sees everything people do, the Lord investigates everywhere they go.
22 Mtu mwovu atatekwa na makosa yake mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake zitamnasa kwa nguvu.
The wicked are trapped by their evil actions; the cords of their sins tie them up.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa maonyo; atapotelea mbali kwa upumbavu wake wingi.
They will die because they lack self-control, lost because of their great stupidity.
