Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, zingatia hekima yangu; sikiliza kwa makini ufahamu wangu,
My son, attend unto my wisdom; to my understanding incline thou thy ear:
2 ili ujifunze busara na midomo yako iweze kuhifadhi maarifa.
That thou mayest observe discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
3 Maana midomo ya malaya hutiririsha asali na kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta,
For as of fine honey drop the lips of an adulterous woman, and smoother than oil is her palate;
4 lakini mwishoni anakuwa mchungu kama mnyoo, hukata kama upunga mkali.
But her end is bitter as wormwood, it is sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death, her steps take firm hold on the nether world: (Sheol h7585)
6 Hafikirii njia ya uzima. Hatua za miguu yake hupotea, maana hajui anakwenda wapi.
So that she cannot balance the path of life; her tracks are unsteady, and she knoweth it not.
7 Sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; wala msiache kusikiliza maneno ya kinywa changu.
And now, O ye children, hearken unto me, and depart not from the sayings of my mouth.
8 Lindeni njia yenu mbali naye wala msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake.
Remove far from her thy way, and come not nigh to the door of her house;
9 Kwa njia hiyo hamtawapa wengine heshima yenu au miaka ya uzima wenu kwa mtu mkatiri;
That thou mayest not give up unto others thy vigor, and thy years unto the cruel;
10 wageni usije kufanya karamu kwa utajiri wenu; kazi mliyoifanya haitaenda katika nyumba ya wageni.
That strangers may not satisfy themselves with thy strength, and with thy exertions, in the house of an alien:
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yenu mtajuta ambapo nyama na mwili wenu vitaangamia.
While thou moanest at thy end, when thy flesh and thy body are coming to their end,
12 Nanyi mtasema, “Namna gani nilichukia fundisho na moyo wangu ulidharau sahihisho!
And thou sayest, How have I hated correction, and how hath my heart rejected reproof;
13 Sikuweza kuwatii walimu wangu au kuwasikiliza walionielekeza.
While I hearkened not to the voice of my instructors, and to my teachers I inclined not my ear;
14 Nilikuwa nimeharibika kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko, miongoni mwa makutano ya watu.”
But little more was wanting, and I had been in all [kinds of] unhappiness 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 water out of thy own cistern, and running waters out of thy own well.
16 Je inapaswa chemichemi yenu ifurike popote na mifereji yenu ya maji itiririke katika njia kuu?
So will thy springs overflow abroad; and in the open streets will be thy rivulets of water;
17 Yawe yenu wenyewe peke yenu wala si kwa wageni.
They will be thy own only, and not those of strangers with thee.
18 Chemichemi yako ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Thy fountain will be blessed: 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.
The lovely gazelle and the graceful chamois: let her bosom satisfy thee abundantly at all times; with her love be thou ravished continually.
20 Mwanangu, kwa nini uwe mateka wa malaya, kwa nini uyakumbatie matiti ya mwanamke mgeni?
And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with an adulteress, and embrace the bosom of an alien woman?
21 Yehova huona kila kitu afanyacho mtu na huangalia mapito yake yote.
For before the eyes of the Lord are the ways of man, and all his tracks doth he weigh in the balance.
22 Mtu mwovu atatekwa na makosa yake mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake zitamnasa kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities will truly catch the wicked, and with the cords of his sin will he be held firmly.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa maonyo; atapotelea mbali kwa upumbavu wake wingi.
He will indeed die for want of correction; and through the abundance of his folly will he sink into error.
