Mithali 7
1 Mwanangu, yatunze maneno yangu na ndani yako udhihifadhi amri zangu.
My son! keep my sayings, And my commands lay up with thee.
2 Uzilinde amri zangu ili uishi na uyatunzetu mafundisho yangu kama mboni ya jicho.
Keep my commands, and live, And my law as the pupil of thine eye.
3 Uyafunge katika vidole vyako; uyaandike katika kibao cha moyo wako.
Bind them on thy fingers, Write them on the tablet of thy heart.
4 Mwambie hekima, “wewe ni dada yangu,” na ufahamu mwite jamaa yako,
Say to wisdom, 'My sister Thou [art].' And cry to understanding, 'Kinswoman!'
5 ili ujitunze mwenyewe dhidi ya mwanake haramu, dhidi ya mwanamke mgeni mwenye maneno laini.
To preserve thee from a strange woman, From a stranger who hath made smooth her sayings.
6 Nilikuwa naangalia kwenye wavu wa dirisha la nyumba yangu.
For, at a window of my house, Through my casement I have looked out,
7 Nikawatazama watu mwenye ukosefu wa uzoefu, na miongoni mwa watu vijana nikamwona kijana asiye na akili.
And I do see among the simple ones, I discern among the sons, A young man lacking understanding,
8 Kijana huyo alishuka mtaani kwenye kona karibu na yule mwanamke, akaenda kwenye nyumba yake.
Passing on in the street, near her corner, And the way [to] her house he doth step,
9 Ilikuwa katika utusiutusi wa siku muda wa jioni, wakati wa usiku na giza.
In the twilight — in the evening of day, In the darkness of night and blackness.
10 Akakutana na yule mwanake, amevaa kama kahaba, katika moyo wa udanyanyifu.
And, lo, a woman to meet him — (A harlot's dress, and watchful of heart,
11 Alikuwa na kelele na upotovu; miguu yake haikutulia kwenye masikani.
Noisy she [is], and stubborn, In her house her feet rest not.
12 Alielekea mitaani, kisha sehemu ya sokoni, na katika kila upande alisubiri kwa kuviza.
Now in an out-place, now in broad places, And near every corner she lieth in wait) —
13 Basi akamshika na kumbusu, kwa uso wa nguvu akamwambia,
And she laid hold on him, and kissed him, She hath hardened her face, and saith to him,
14 leo nimetoa sadaka yangu ya amani, nimelipa nadhili yangu,
'Sacrifices of peace-offerings [are] by me, To-day I have completed my vows.
15 hivyo nilikuja kukutana nawe, kuutafuta uso wako kwa hamu, na sasa nimekupata.
Therefore I have come forth to meet thee, To seek earnestly thy face, and I find thee.
16 Nimeweka matandiko juu ya kitanda changu, kitani za rangi kutoka Misri.
[With] ornamental coverings I decked my couch, Carved works — cotton of Egypt.
17 Kitanda changu nimenyunyizia manemane, udi na mdalasini.
I sprinkled my bed — myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Njoo, tunywe tujishibishe kwa upendo wetu hata asubuhi; tupate furaha kuu kwa matendo ya mahaba.
Come, we are filled [with] loves till the morning, We delight ourselves in loves.
19 Maana mume wangu hayupo nyumbani kwake; amekwenda safari ya mbali.
For the man is not in his house, He hath gone on a long journey.
20 Alichukua mkoba wa fedha; atarudi siku ya mwezi mpevu.
A bag of money he hath taken in his hand, At the day of the new moon he cometh to his house.'
21 katika maneno yake mengi akamshinda; na kwa midomo yake laini anampotosha.
She turneth him aside with the abundance of her speech, With the flattery of her lips she forceth him.
22 Ghafula alimfuata kama maksai anayekwenda kwa mchinjaji, kama ayala aliyekamatwa kwa nguvu,
He is going after her straightway, As an ox unto the slaughter he cometh, And as a fetter unto the chastisement of a fool,
23 mpaka mshale upasue ini lake. Alikuwa kama ndege anayekimbili kwenye mtego. Hakujua kuwa itamgharimu maisha yake.
Till an arrow doth split his liver, As a bird hath hastened unto a snare, And hath not known that it [is] for its life.
24 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; zingatieni maneno ya kinywa changu.
And now, ye sons, hearken to me, And give attention to sayings of my mouth.
25 Moyo wako usiyageukie mapito yake; usipotoshwe katika mapito yake.
Let not thy heart turn unto her ways, Do not wander in her paths,
26 Amesababisha watu wengi kuanguka kwa kuwajeruhi; ameua watu wengi.
For many [are] the wounded she caused to fall, And mighty [are] all her slain ones.
