Mithali 7
1 Mwanangu, yatunze maneno yangu na ndani yako udhihifadhi amri zangu.
My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you.
2 Uzilinde amri zangu ili uishi na uyatunzetu mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho.
Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching 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 tablet of your heart.
4 Mwambie hekima, “wewe ni dada yangu,” na ufahamu mwite jamaa yako,
Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative,
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 foreigner who flatters with her words.
6 Nilikuwa naangalia kwenye wavu wa dirisha la nyumba yangu.
For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.
7 Nikawatazama watu mwenye ukosefu wa uzoefu, na miongoni mwa watu vijana nikamwona kijana asiye na akili.
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.
passing through the street near her corner, 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 middle of the night and in the darkness.
10 Akakutana na yule mwanake, amevaa kama kahaba, katika moyo wa udanyanyifu.
Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.
11 Alikuwa na kelele na upotovu; miguu yake haikutulia kwenye masikani.
She is loud and defiant. Her feet don’t stay in her house.
12 Alielekea mitaani, kisha sehemu ya sokoni, na katika kila upande alisubiri kwa kuviza.
Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner.
13 Basi akamshika na kumbusu, kwa uso wa nguvu akamwambia,
So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him:
14 leo nimetoa sadaka yangu ya amani, nimelipa nadhili yangu,
“Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows.
15 hivyo nilikuja kukutana nawe, kuutafuta uso wako kwa hamu, na sasa nimekupata.
Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you.
16 Nimeweka matandiko juu ya kitanda changu, kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn 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’s take our fill of loving until the morning. Let’s solace ourselves with loving.
19 Maana mume wangu hayupo nyumbani kwake; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
For my husband isn’t at home. He has gone on a long journey.
20 Alichukua mkoba wa fedha; atarudi siku ya mwezi mpevu.
He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.”
21 katika maneno yake mengi akamshinda; na kwa midomo yake laini anampotosha.
With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him.
22 Ghafula alimfuata kama maksai anayekwenda kwa mchinjaji, kama ayala aliyekamatwa kwa nguvu,
He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose.
23 mpaka mshale upasue ini lake. Alikuwa kama ndege anayekimbili kwenye mtego. Hakujua kuwa itamgharimu maisha yake.
Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn’t know that it will cost his life.
24 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; zingatieni maneno ya kinywa changu.
Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Moyo wako usiyageukie mapito yake; usipotoshwe katika mapito yake.
Don’t let your heart turn to her ways. Don’t go astray in her paths,
26 Amesababisha watu wengi kuanguka kwa kuwajeruhi; ameua watu wengi.
for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army.
