Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, zingatia hekima yangu; sikiliza kwa makini ufahamu wangu,
My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding,
2 ili ujifunze busara na midomo yako iweze kuhifadhi maarifa.
that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge.
3 Maana midomo ya malaya hutiririsha asali na kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta,
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil,
4 lakini mwishoni anakuwa mchungu kama mnyoo, hukata kama upunga mkali.
but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
6 Hafikirii njia ya uzima. Hatua za miguu yake hupotea, maana hajui anakwenda wapi.
She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn’t know it.
7 Sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; wala msiache kusikiliza maneno ya kinywa changu.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don’t depart from the words of my mouth.
8 Lindeni njia yenu mbali naye wala msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake.
Remove your way far from her. Don’t come near the door of her house,
9 Kwa njia hiyo hamtawapa wengine heshima yenu au miaka ya uzima wenu kwa mtu mkatiri;
lest you give your honour to others, and your years to the cruel one;
10 wageni usije kufanya karamu kwa utajiri wenu; kazi mliyoifanya haitaenda katika nyumba ya wageni.
lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labours enrich another man’s house.
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yenu mtajuta ambapo nyama na mwili wenu vitaangamia.
You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
12 Nanyi mtasema, “Namna gani nilichukia fundisho na moyo wangu ulidharau sahihisho!
and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof.
13 Sikuweza kuwatii walimu wangu au kuwasikiliza walionielekeza.
I haven’t obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me!
14 Nilikuwa nimeharibika kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko, miongoni mwa makutano ya watu.”
I have come to the brink of utter ruin, amongst the gathered assembly.”
15 Munywe maji kutoka kwenye birika lenu mwenyewe na munywe maji yanatiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chenu.
Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.
16 Je inapaswa chemichemi yenu ifurike popote na mifereji yenu ya maji itiririke katika njia kuu?
Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares?
17 Yawe yenu wenyewe peke yenu wala si kwa wageni.
Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.
18 Chemichemi yako ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your 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 doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love.
20 Mwanangu, kwa nini uwe mateka wa malaya, kwa nini uyakumbatie matiti ya mwanamke mgeni?
For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another?
21 Yehova huona kila kitu afanyacho mtu na huangalia mapito yake yote.
For the ways of man are before the LORD’s eyes. He examines all his paths.
22 Mtu mwovu atatekwa na makosa yake mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake zitamnasa kwa nguvu.
The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa maonyo; atapotelea mbali kwa upumbavu wake wingi.
He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray.
