Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, zingatia hekima yangu; sikiliza kwa makini ufahamu wangu,
My son! to my wisdom give attention, To mine understanding incline thine ear,
2 ili ujifunze busara na midomo yako iweze kuhifadhi maarifa.
To observe thoughtfulness, And knowledge do thy lips keep.
3 Maana midomo ya malaya hutiririsha asali na kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta,
For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And smoother than oil [is] her mouth,
4 lakini mwishoni anakuwa mchungu kama mnyoo, hukata kama upunga mkali.
And her latter end [is] bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a sword [with] mouths.
Her feet are going down to death, Sheol do her steps take hold of. (Sheol h7585)
6 Hafikirii njia ya uzima. Hatua za miguu yake hupotea, maana hajui anakwenda wapi.
The path of life — lest thou ponder, Moved have her paths — thou knowest not.
7 Sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; wala msiache kusikiliza maneno ya kinywa changu.
And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And turn not from sayings of my mouth.
8 Lindeni njia yenu mbali naye wala msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake.
Keep far from off her thy way, And come not near unto 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 others thy honour, And thy years to the fierce,
10 wageni usije kufanya karamu kwa utajiri wenu; kazi mliyoifanya haitaenda katika nyumba ya wageni.
Lest strangers be filled [with] thy power, And thy labours in the house of a stranger,
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yenu mtajuta ambapo nyama na mwili wenu vitaangamia.
And thou hast howled in thy latter end, In the consumption of thy flesh and thy food,
12 Nanyi mtasema, “Namna gani nilichukia fundisho na moyo wangu ulidharau sahihisho!
And hast said, 'How have I hated instruction, And reproof hath my heart despised,
13 Sikuweza kuwatii walimu wangu au kuwasikiliza walionielekeza.
And I have not hearkened to the voice of my directors, And to my teachers have not inclined mine ear.
14 Nilikuwa nimeharibika kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko, miongoni mwa makutano ya watu.”
As a little thing I have been all evil, In the midst of an assembly and a company.
15 Munywe maji kutoka kwenye birika lenu mwenyewe na munywe maji yanatiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chenu.
Drink waters out of thine own cistern, Even flowing ones out of thine own well.
16 Je inapaswa chemichemi yenu ifurike popote na mifereji yenu ya maji itiririke katika njia kuu?
Let thy fountains be scattered abroad, In broad places rivulets of waters.
17 Yawe yenu wenyewe peke yenu wala si kwa wageni.
Let them be to thee for thyself, And not to strangers with thee.
18 Chemichemi yako ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let thy fountain be blessed, And rejoice because of 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 hind of loves, and a roe of grace! Let her loves satisfy thee at all times, In her love magnify thyself continually.
20 Mwanangu, kwa nini uwe mateka wa malaya, kwa nini uyakumbatie matiti ya mwanamke mgeni?
And why dost thou magnify thyself, My son, with a stranger? And embrace the bosom of a strange woman?
21 Yehova huona kila kitu afanyacho mtu na huangalia mapito yake yote.
For over-against the eyes of Jehovah are the ways of each, And all his paths He is pondering.
22 Mtu mwovu atatekwa na makosa yake mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake zitamnasa kwa nguvu.
His own iniquities do capture the wicked, And with the ropes of his sin he is holden.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa maonyo; atapotelea mbali kwa upumbavu wake wingi.
He dieth without instruction, And in the abundance of his folly magnifieth himself!
