Mithali 7
1 Mwanangu, yatunze maneno yangu na ndani yako udhihifadhi amri zangu.
My son, keep my words, And treasure up my commandments with thee!
2 Uzilinde amri zangu ili uishi na uyatunzetu mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho.
Keep my commandments and live! Yea, 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 understanding thy near acquaintance;
5 ili ujitunze mwenyewe dhidi ya mwanake haramu, dhidi ya mwanamke mgeni mwenye maneno laini.
That they may keep thee from the wife of another, From the stranger, that useth smooth words.
6 Nilikuwa naangalia kwenye wavu wa dirisha la nyumba yangu.
For through the window of my house, Through the lattice I was looking forth,
7 Nikawatazama watu mwenye ukosefu wa uzoefu, na miongoni mwa watu vijana nikamwona kijana asiye na akili.
And I saw 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.
He was passing through the street near her corner, And was going the way to her house,
9 Ilikuwa katika utusiutusi wa siku muda wa jioni, wakati wa usiku na giza.
At twilight, in the evening, At midnight, yea, in the thick darkness.
10 Akakutana na yule mwanake, amevaa kama kahaba, katika moyo wa udanyanyifu.
And, behold, a woman met him, In the attire of a harlot, and subtle of heart, —
11 Alikuwa na kelele na upotovu; miguu yake haikutulia kwenye masikani.
One noisy and unruly, Whose feet abide not in her house;
12 Alielekea mitaani, kisha sehemu ya sokoni, na katika kila upande alisubiri kwa kuviza.
Who is now in the streets, now in the broad places, And lurketh near every corner.
13 Basi akamshika na kumbusu, kwa uso wa nguvu akamwambia,
She caught hold of him and kissed him, And with a shameless face said to him,
14 leo nimetoa sadaka yangu ya amani, nimelipa nadhili yangu,
“Thank-offerings have been upon me, And this day have I performed my vows;
15 hivyo nilikuja kukutana nawe, kuutafuta uso wako kwa hamu, na sasa nimekupata.
Therefore came I forth to meet thee, —Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee!
16 Nimeweka matandiko juu ya kitanda changu, kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
I have spread my bed with coverlets, With tapestry of the thread of Egypt.
17 Kitanda changu nimenyunyizia manemane, udi na mdalasini.
I have sprinkled 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 caresses.
19 Maana mume wangu hayupo nyumbani kwake; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
For the good-man is not at home; He is gone a long journey;
20 Alichukua mkoba wa fedha; atarudi siku ya mwezi mpevu.
He hath taken a purse of money with him; At the day of the full moon he will return.”
21 katika maneno yake mengi akamshinda; na kwa midomo yake laini anampotosha.
By her much fair speech she seduced him; By the smoothness of her lips she drew him away.
22 Ghafula alimfuata kama maksai anayekwenda kwa mchinjaji, kama ayala aliyekamatwa kwa nguvu,
He goeth after her straightway, As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as one in fetters to the chastisement 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 hasteneth into the snare, And knoweth not that it is laid for its life.
24 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; zingatieni maneno ya kinywa changu.
Now, therefore, ye children, hearken to me, And attend to the words of my mouth!
25 Moyo wako usiyageukie mapito yake; usipotoshwe katika mapito yake.
Let not thy heart turn aside to her ways; Go not astray in her paths!
26 Amesababisha watu wengi kuanguka kwa kuwajeruhi; ameua watu wengi.
For many are the wounded which she hath cast down; Yea, countless is the number of those slain by her.
