Mithali 5
1 Mwanangu, zingatia hekima yangu; sikiliza kwa makini ufahamu wangu,
[My] son, attend to my wisdom, and apply your ear to my words;
2 ili ujifunze busara na midomo yako iweze kuhifadhi maarifa.
that you may keep good understanding, and the discretion of my lips gives you a charge. Give no heed to a worthless woman;
3 Maana midomo ya malaya hutiririsha asali na kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta,
for honey drops from the lips of a harlot, who for a season pleases your palate:
4 lakini mwishoni anakuwa mchungu kama mnyoo, hukata kama upunga mkali.
but afterwards you will find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword.
For the feet of folly lead those who deal with her down to the grave with death; and her steps are not established. (Sheol h7585)
6 Hafikirii njia ya uzima. Hatua za miguu yake hupotea, maana hajui anakwenda wapi.
For she goes not upon the paths of life; but her ways are slippery, and not easily known.
7 Sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni; wala msiache kusikiliza maneno ya kinywa changu.
Now then, [my] son, hear me, and make not my words of none effect.
8 Lindeni njia yenu mbali naye wala msiende karibu na mlango wa nyumba yake.
Remove your way far from her; draw not near to the doors of her house:
9 Kwa njia hiyo hamtawapa wengine heshima yenu au miaka ya uzima wenu kwa mtu mkatiri;
lest you give away your life to others, and your substance to the merciless:
10 wageni usije kufanya karamu kwa utajiri wenu; kazi mliyoifanya haitaenda katika nyumba ya wageni.
lest strangers be filled with your strength, and your labours come into the houses of strangers;
11 Mwishoni mwa maisha yenu mtajuta ambapo nyama na mwili wenu vitaangamia.
And you repent at last, when the flesh of your body is consumed,
12 Nanyi mtasema, “Namna gani nilichukia fundisho na moyo wangu ulidharau sahihisho!
and you shall say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart avoided reproofs!
13 Sikuweza kuwatii walimu wangu au kuwasikiliza walionielekeza.
I heard not the voice of him that instructed me, and taught me, neither did I apply mine ear.
14 Nilikuwa nimeharibika kabisa katikati ya kusanyiko, miongoni mwa makutano ya watu.”
I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
15 Munywe maji kutoka kwenye birika lenu mwenyewe na munywe maji yanatiririka kutoka kwenye kisima chenu.
Drink waters out of your own vessels, and out of your own springing wells.
16 Je inapaswa chemichemi yenu ifurike popote na mifereji yenu ya maji itiririke katika njia kuu?
Let not waters out of your fountain be spilt by you, but let your waters go into your streets.
17 Yawe yenu wenyewe peke yenu wala si kwa wageni.
Let them be only your own, and let no stranger partake with you.
18 Chemichemi yako ibarikiwe na umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
Let your fountain of water be [truly] your own; and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
19 Maana ni ayala apendezaye na kulungu mwenye uzuri. Matiti yake na yakujaze furaha muda wote; daima na utekwe na upendo wake.
Let [your] loving hart and your graceful colt company with you, and let her be considered your own, and be with you at all times; for ravished with her love you shall be greatly increased.
20 Mwanangu, kwa nini uwe mateka wa malaya, kwa nini uyakumbatie matiti ya mwanamke mgeni?
Be not intimate with a strange woman, neither fold yourself in the arms of a woman not your own.
21 Yehova huona kila kitu afanyacho mtu na huangalia mapito yake yote.
For the ways of a man are before the eyes of God, and he looks on all his paths.
22 Mtu mwovu atatekwa na makosa yake mwenyewe; kamba za dhambi yake zitamnasa kwa nguvu.
Iniquities ensnare a man, and every one is bound in the chains of his own sins.
23 Atakufa kwa kukosa maonyo; atapotelea mbali kwa upumbavu wake wingi.
Such a man dies with the uninstructed; and he is cast forth from the abundance of his own substance, and has perished through folly.
