Mithali 7
1 Mwanangu, yatunze maneno yangu na ndani yako udhihifadhi amri zangu.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
2 Uzilinde amri zangu ili uishi na uyatunzetu mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my teaching, as the apple of thine eye.
3 Uyafunge katika vidole vyako; uyaandike katika kibao cha moyo wako.
Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the tablet of thy heart.
4 Mwambie hekima, “wewe ni dada yangu,” na ufahamu mwite jamaa yako,
Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister, and call intelligence [thy] kinswoman:
5 ili ujitunze mwenyewe dhidi ya mwanake haramu, dhidi ya mwanamke mgeni mwenye maneno laini.
that they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger who flattereth with her words.
6 Nilikuwa naangalia kwenye wavu wa dirisha la nyumba yangu.
For at the window of my house, I looked forth through my lattice,
7 Nikawatazama watu mwenye ukosefu wa uzoefu, na miongoni mwa watu vijana nikamwona kijana asiye na akili.
and I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the sons, a young man void of understanding,
8 Kijana huyo alishuka mtaani kwenye kona karibu na yule mwanamke, akaenda kwenye nyumba yake.
passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
9 Ilikuwa katika utusiutusi wa siku muda wa jioni, wakati wa usiku na giza.
in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the blackness of night and the darkness.
10 Akakutana na yule mwanake, amevaa kama kahaba, katika moyo wa udanyanyifu.
And behold, there met him a woman in the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart.
11 Alikuwa na kelele na upotovu; miguu yake haikutulia kwenye masikani.
She is clamorous and unmanageable; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Alielekea mitaani, kisha sehemu ya sokoni, na katika kila upande alisubiri kwa kuviza.
now without, now in the broadways, — and she lieth in wait at every corner.
13 Basi akamshika na kumbusu, kwa uso wa nguvu akamwambia,
And she caught him and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
14 leo nimetoa sadaka yangu ya amani, nimelipa nadhili yangu,
I have peace-offerings with me; this day have I paid my vows:
15 hivyo nilikuja kukutana nawe, kuutafuta uso wako kwa hamu, na sasa nimekupata.
therefore came I forth to meet thee, to seek earnestly thy face, and I have found thee.
16 Nimeweka matandiko juu ya kitanda changu, kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
I have decked my bed with tapestry coverlets of variegated linen from Egypt;
17 Kitanda changu nimenyunyizia manemane, udi na mdalasini.
I have perfumed my couch with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Njoo, tunywe tujishibishe kwa upendo wetu hata asubuhi; tupate furaha kuu kwa matendo ya mahaba.
Come, let us revel in love until the morning, let us delight ourselves with loves.
19 Maana mume wangu hayupo nyumbani kwake; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
For the husband is not at home, he is gone a long journey;
20 Alichukua mkoba wa fedha; atarudi siku ya mwezi mpevu.
he hath taken the money-bag with him, he will come home on the day of the full moon.
21 katika maneno yake mengi akamshinda; na kwa midomo yake laini anampotosha.
With her much enticement she beguiled him; with the smoothness of her lips she constrained him.
22 Ghafula alimfuata kama maksai anayekwenda kwa mchinjaji, kama ayala aliyekamatwa kwa nguvu,
He went after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, and as stocks [serve] for the correction of the fool;
23 mpaka mshale upasue ini lake. Alikuwa kama ndege anayekimbili kwenye mtego. Hakujua kuwa itamgharimu maisha yake.
till an arrow strike through his liver: as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for its life.
24 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; zingatieni maneno ya kinywa changu.
And now, ye sons, hearken unto me, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Moyo wako usiyageukie mapito yake; usipotoshwe katika mapito yake.
Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths:
26 Amesababisha watu wengi kuanguka kwa kuwajeruhi; ameua watu wengi.
for she hath cast down many wounded, and all slain by her were strong.
