Mithali 4
1 Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2 Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
For I give you good doctrine; forsake ye not my teaching.
3 Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother.
4 baba alinifundisha akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
And he taught me, and said unto me: 'Let thy heart hold fast my words, keep my commandments, and live;
5 Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
Get wisdom, get understanding; forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
6 usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; love her, and she will keep thee.
7 Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom; yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
8 Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
Extol her, and she will exalt thee; she will bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9 Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow on thee.'
10 Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
11 Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
12 Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
When thou goest, thy step shall not be straitened; and if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
13 Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go; keep her, for she is thy life.
14 Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men.
15 Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
Avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass on.
16 Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
For they sleep not, except they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
17 Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu na hunywa divai ya vurugu.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
18 Bali njia ya mwenye kutenda haki ni kama mwanga ung'aao, huangaza zaidi na zaidi hadi mchana inapowasili kwa ukamilifu.
But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble.
20 Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart.
22 Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
Above all that thou guardest keep thy heart; for out of it are the issues of life.
24 Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
25 Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
26 Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
Make plain the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.
