Mithali 7
1 Mwanangu, yatunze maneno yangu na ndani yako udhihifadhi amri zangu.
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with you.
2 Uzilinde amri zangu ili uishi na uyatunzetu mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho.
Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of your eye.
3 Uyafunge katika vidole vyako; uyaandike katika kibao cha moyo wako.
Bind them on your fingers, write them on the table of your heart.
4 Mwambie hekima, “wewe ni dada yangu,” na ufahamu mwite jamaa yako,
Say to wisdom, You are my sister; and call understanding your kinswoman:
5 ili ujitunze mwenyewe dhidi ya mwanake haramu, dhidi ya mwanamke mgeni mwenye maneno laini.
That they may keep you from the strange woman, from the stranger which flatters with her words.
6 Nilikuwa naangalia kwenye wavu wa dirisha la nyumba yangu.
For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
7 Nikawatazama watu mwenye ukosefu wa uzoefu, na miongoni mwa watu vijana nikamwona kijana asiye na akili.
And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, 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, in the black and dark night:
10 Akakutana na yule mwanake, amevaa kama kahaba, katika moyo wa udanyanyifu.
And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart.
11 Alikuwa na kelele na upotovu; miguu yake haikutulia kwenye masikani.
(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
12 Alielekea mitaani, kisha sehemu ya sokoni, na katika kila upande alisubiri kwa kuviza.
Now is she without, now in the streets, and lies in wait at every corner.)
13 Basi akamshika na kumbusu, kwa uso wa nguvu akamwambia,
So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to 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 you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.
16 Nimeweka matandiko juu ya kitanda changu, kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
17 Kitanda changu nimenyunyizia manemane, udi na mdalasini.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Njoo, tunywe tujishibishe kwa upendo wetu hata asubuhi; tupate furaha kuu kwa matendo ya mahaba.
Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
19 Maana mume wangu hayupo nyumbani kwake; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
For the manager is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
20 Alichukua mkoba wa fedha; atarudi siku ya mwezi mpevu.
He has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
21 katika maneno yake mengi akamshinda; na kwa midomo yake laini anampotosha.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
22 Ghafula alimfuata kama maksai anayekwenda kwa mchinjaji, kama ayala aliyekamatwa kwa nguvu,
He goes after her straightway, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
23 mpaka mshale upasue ini lake. Alikuwa kama ndege anayekimbili kwenye mtego. Hakujua kuwa itamgharimu maisha yake.
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hastens to the snare, and knows not that it is for his life.
24 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; zingatieni maneno ya kinywa changu.
Listen to me now therefore, O you children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
25 Moyo wako usiyageukie mapito yake; usipotoshwe katika mapito yake.
Let not your heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
26 Amesababisha watu wengi kuanguka kwa kuwajeruhi; ameua watu wengi.
For she has cast down many wounded: yes, many strong men have been slain by her.
