1
Mwanangu, kama ukiyakubali maneno yangu, Na kuyaweka akiba maagizo yangu;
My son, if you accept my words and hide my commandments within you,
2
Hata ukatega sikio lako kusikia hekima, Ukauelekeza moyo wako upate kufahamu;
if you incline your ear to wisdom and direct your heart to understanding,
3
Naam, ukiita busara, Na kupaza sauti yako upate ufahamu;
if you truly call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding,
4
Ukiutafuta kama fedha, Na kuutafutia kama hazina iliyositirika;
if you seek it like silver and search it out like hidden treasure,
5
Ndipo utakapofahamu kumcha Bwana, Na kupata kumjua Mungu.
then you will discern the fear of the LORD and discover the knowledge of God.
6
Kwa kuwa Bwana huwapa watu hekima; Kinywani mwake hutoka maarifa na ufahamu;
For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7
Huwawekea wanyofu akiba ya hekima kamili; Yeye ni ngao kwao waendao kwa ukamilifu;
He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk with integrity,
8
Apate kuyalinda mapito ya hukumu, Na kuhifadhi njia ya watakatifu wake.
to guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His saints.
9
Ndipo utakapofahamu haki na hukumu, Na adili, na kila njia njema.
Then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity—every good path.
10
Maana hekima itaingia moyoni mwako, Na maarifa yatakupendeza nafsi yako;
For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight your soul.
11
Busara itakulinda; Ufahamu utakuhifadhi.
Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you,
12
Ili kukuokoa na njia ya uovu, Na watu wanenao yaliyopotoka;
to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perversity,
13
Watu waziachao njia za unyofu, Ili kuziendea njia za giza;
from those who leave the straight paths to walk in the ways of darkness,
14
Wafurahio kutenda mabaya; Wapendezwao na upotoe wa waovu;
from those who enjoy doing evil and rejoice in the twistedness of evil,
15
Waliopotoka katika njia zao; Walio wakaidi katika mapito yao.
whose paths are crooked and whose ways are devious.
16
Ili kuokoka na malaya, Naam, malaya mwenye kubembeleza kwa maneno yake;
It will rescue you from the forbidden woman, from the stranger with seductive words
17
Amwachaye rafiki wa ujana wake, Na kulisahau agano la Mungu wake.
who abandons the partner of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God.
18
Maana nyumba yake inaelekea mauti, Na mapito yake yanakwenda kwenye wafu.
For her house sinks down to death, and her tracks to the departed spirits.
19
Katika hao wamwendeao harudi hata mmoja, Wala hawazifikilii njia za uzima.
None who go to her return or negotiate the paths of life.
20
Ili upate kwenda katika njia ya watu wema, Na kuyashika mapito ya wenye haki.
So you will follow in the ways of the good, and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21
Maana wanyofu watakaa katika nchi, Na wakamilifu watadumu ndani yake.
For the upright will inhabit the land, and the blameless will remain in it;
22
Bali waovu watatengwa na nchi, Nao wafanyao hila watang'olewa.
but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be uprooted.