Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, zingatia hekima yangu; sikiliza kwa makini ufahamu wangu,
My son, to my wisdom, attend, and, to mine understanding, incline thou thine ear:
2 ili ujifunze busara na midomo yako iweze kuhifadhi maarifa.
That thou mayest preserve discretion, —and, as for knowledge, that thy lips may guard it.
3 Maana midomo ya malaya hutiririsha asali na kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta,
For, with sweet droppings, drip the lips of her that is a stranger, and, smoother than oil, is her mouth;
4 lakini mwishoni anakuwa mchungu kama mnyoo, hukata kama upunga mkali.
But, the latter end of her, is bitter as wormwood, sharp, as a two-edged sword!
Her feet, are going down to death, —on hades, will her steps take firm hold. (Sheol h7585)
6 Hafikirii njia ya uzima. Hatua za miguu yake hupotea, maana hajui anakwenda wapi.
Lest, the path of life, she should ponder, her tracks have wandered she knoweth not [whither].
7 Sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; wala msiache kusikiliza maneno ya kinywa changu.
Now, therefore, ye sons, hearken unto me, and do not turn away from the sayings of my mouth.
8 Lindeni njia yenu mbali naye wala msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake.
Keep far from her thy way, and do not go near the opening of her house:
9 Kwa njia hiyo hamtawapa wengine heshima yenu au miaka ya uzima wenu kwa mtu mkatiri;
Lest thou give, to other men, thy vigour, and thy years, to him that is cruel:
10 wageni usije kufanya karamu kwa utajiri wenu; kazi mliyoifanya haitaenda katika nyumba ya wageni.
Lest strange men, be well fed, by thy strength, and, thy toils, be in the house of the alien.
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yenu mtajuta ambapo nyama na mwili wenu vitaangamia.
So shalt thou grieve in thy latter end, in the failing of thy flesh and of thy healthy condition;
12 Nanyi mtasema, “Namna gani nilichukia fundisho na moyo wangu ulidharau sahihisho!
And thou shalt say—How I hated correction! and, reproof, my heart disdained;
13 Sikuweza kuwatii walimu wangu au kuwasikiliza walionielekeza.
Neither hearkened I to the voice of my teachers, nor, to my instructors, inclined I mine ear:
14 Nilikuwa nimeharibika kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko, miongoni mwa makutano ya watu.”
Soon was I in all evil, in the midst of convocation and assembly.
15 Munywe maji kutoka kwenye birika lenu mwenyewe na munywe maji yanatiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chenu.
Drink thou water out of thine own cistern, and flowing streams out of the midst of thine own well.
16 Je inapaswa chemichemi yenu ifurike popote na mifereji yenu ya maji itiririke katika njia kuu?
Let not thy fountains, flow over, abroad, in the streets, dividings of waters:
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 well-spring be blessed, —and get thy joy from 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 loving hind! a graceful doe! let, her bosom, content thee at all times, and, in her love, mayst thou stray evermore.
20 Mwanangu, kwa nini uwe mateka wa malaya, kwa nini uyakumbatie matiti ya mwanamke mgeni?
Wherefore, then, shouldst thou stray, my son, with a strange woman? or embrace the bosom of a woman unknown?
21 Yehova huona kila kitu afanyacho mtu na huangalia mapito yake yote.
For, before the eyes of Yahweh, are the ways of a man, —and, all his tracks, doth he consider:
22 Mtu mwovu atatekwa na makosa yake mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake zitamnasa kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities, shall entrap him with the lawless, and, by the cords of his own sin, shall he be seized.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa maonyo; atapotelea mbali kwa upumbavu wake wingi.
He, shall die, for lack of discipline, and, by the abounding of his perversity, shall he be lost.
