Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, zingatia hekima yangu; sikiliza kwa makini ufahamu wangu,
My son, attend unto my wisdom; incline thine ear to my understanding:
2 ili ujifunze busara na midomo yako iweze kuhifadhi maarifa.
That thou mayest preserve discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
3 Maana midomo ya malaya hutiririsha asali na kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta,
For 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 latter end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on Sheol; (Sheol h7585)
6 Hafikirii njia ya uzima. Hatua za miguu yake hupotea, maana hajui anakwenda wapi.
So that she findeth not the level path of life: her ways are unstable [and] she knoweth [it] not.
7 Sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; wala msiache kusikiliza maneno ya kinywa changu.
Now therefore, [my] sons, hearken unto me, and depart not 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 thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
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 [be] in the house of an alien;
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yenu mtajuta ambapo nyama na mwili wenu vitaangamia.
And thou mourn at 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 my heart despised reproof;
13 Sikuweza kuwatii walimu wangu au kuwasikiliza walionielekeza.
Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
14 Nilikuwa nimeharibika kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko, miongoni mwa makutano ya watu.”
I was well nigh 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 cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
16 Je inapaswa chemichemi yenu ifurike popote na mifereji yenu ya maji itiririke katika njia kuu?
Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, and rivers of water in the streets?
17 Yawe yenu wenyewe peke yenu wala si kwa wageni.
Let them be for thyself alone, and not for strangers with thee.
18 Chemichemi yako ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let thy fountain be blessed; and rejoice 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.
[As] a loving hind and a pleasant doe, let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
20 Mwanangu, kwa nini uwe mateka wa malaya, kwa nini uyakumbatie matiti ya mwanamke mgeni?
For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, 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 maketh level all his paths.
22 Mtu mwovu atatekwa na makosa yake mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake zitamnasa kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa maonyo; atapotelea mbali kwa upumbavu wake wingi.
He shall die for lack of instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
