Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, zingatia hekima yangu; sikiliza kwa makini ufahamu wangu,
My son, attend to my wisdom. And bow thine ear to my understanding;
2 ili ujifunze busara na midomo yako iweze kuhifadhi maarifa.
That thou mayest keep discretion, And that thy lips may preserve knowledge!
3 Maana midomo ya malaya hutiririsha asali na kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta,
Truly, the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil;
4 lakini mwishoni anakuwa mchungu kama mnyoo, hukata kama upunga mkali.
But her end is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death; Her steps lay hold of the under-world. (Sheol h7585)
6 Hafikirii njia ya uzima. Hatua za miguu yake hupotea, maana hajui anakwenda wapi.
That she may not ponder the way of life, Her paths waver when she heedeth it not.
7 Sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; wala msiache kusikiliza maneno ya kinywa changu.
Hear me now, therefore, O children! And turn not away from the words of my mouth!
8 Lindeni njia yenu mbali naye wala msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake.
Remove thy way far from her. And come not nigh the door of her house:
9 Kwa njia hiyo hamtawapa wengine heshima yenu au miaka ya uzima wenu kwa mtu mkatiri;
Lest thou give thy bloom to others, And thy years to a cruel one;
10 wageni usije kufanya karamu kwa utajiri wenu; kazi mliyoifanya haitaenda katika nyumba ya wageni.
Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth, And thine earnings be in the house of an alien;
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yenu mtajuta ambapo nyama na mwili wenu vitaangamia.
And lest thou mourn in thy latter end. When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
12 Nanyi mtasema, “Namna gani nilichukia fundisho na moyo wangu ulidharau sahihisho!
And say, “How have I hated instruction! And how hath my heart despised reproof!
13 Sikuweza kuwatii walimu wangu au kuwasikiliza walionielekeza.
I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to my instructors;
14 Nilikuwa nimeharibika kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko, miongoni mwa makutano ya watu.”
I have well-nigh fallen into utter misery; In the midst of the congregation and the assembly.”
15 Munywe maji kutoka kwenye birika lenu mwenyewe na munywe maji yanatiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chenu.
Drink water out of thine own cistern. And running water out of thine own well:
16 Je inapaswa chemichemi yenu ifurike popote na mifereji yenu ya maji itiririke katika njia kuu?
So shall thy fountains overflow in the streets, In the wide streets, as streams of water;
17 Yawe yenu wenyewe peke yenu wala si kwa wageni.
They shall belong to thee alone, And not to strangers with thee;
18 Chemichemi yako ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
And thy fountain shall be blessed, Yea, thou shalt have joy in 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.
A lovely hind, a graceful doe, Her breasts shall satisfy thee at all times, And thou shalt be always ravished with her love.
20 Mwanangu, kwa nini uwe mateka wa malaya, kwa nini uyakumbatie matiti ya mwanamke mgeni?
Why, then, my son, wilt thou be ravished with a wanton, And embrace the bosom of a stranger?
21 Yehova huona kila kitu afanyacho mtu na huangalia mapito yake yote.
For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And he weigheth well all his paths.
22 Mtu mwovu atatekwa na makosa yake mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake zitamnasa kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked; Yea, he shall be held fast by the cords of his own sins.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa maonyo; atapotelea mbali kwa upumbavu wake wingi.
He shall die for want of instruction; Yea, through the greatness of his folly he shall stagger.
