1
Mwanangu, sikiliza hekima yangu; Tega sikio lako, mzisikie akili zangu;
My son, pay attention to my wisdom; incline your ear to my insight,
2
Upate kuilinda busara, Na midomo yako iyahifadhi maarifa.
that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.
3
Maana midomo ya malaya hudondoza asali, Na kinywa chake ni laini kuliko mafuta;
Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil,
4
Lakini mwisho wake ni mchungu kuliko pakanga; Ni mkali kama upanga wa makali kuwili.
in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a double-edged sword.
5
Miguu yake inatelemkia mauti; Hatua zake zinashikamana na kuzimu;
Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to Sheol.
6
Hata asiweze kuiona njia sawa ya uzima; Njia zake ni za kutanga-tanga wala hana habari.
She does not consider the path of life; she does not know that her ways are unstable.
7
Basi, wanangu, nisikilizeni sasa, Wala msiache maneno ya kinywa changu.
So now, my sons, listen to me, and do not turn aside from the words of my mouth.
8
Itenge njia yako mbali naye, Wala usiukaribie mlango wa nyumba yake.
Keep your path far from her; do not go near the door of her house,
9
Usije ukawapa wengine heshima yako, Na wakorofi miaka yako;
lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;
10
Wageni wasije wakashiba nguvu zako; Kazi zako zikawa ndani ya nyumba ya mgeni;
lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich the house of a foreigner.
11
Nawe ukaziombolea siku zako za mwisho, Nyama yako na mwili wako utakapoangamia;
At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are spent,
12
Ukasema, Jinsi nilivyochukia maonyo, Na moyo wangu ukadharau kukemewa;
and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!
13
Wala sikuisikia sauti ya waalimu wangu, Wala sikuwategea sikio langu walionifundisha!
I did not listen to the voice of my teachers or incline my ear to my mentors.
14
Nalikuwa karibu na kuingia katika maovu yote, Katikati ya mkutano na kusanyiko.
I am on the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly.”
15
Unywe maji ya birika lako mwenyewe, Na maji yenye kububujika katika kisima chako.
Drink water from your own cistern, and running water from your own well.
16
Je! Chemchemi zako zitawanyike mbali, Na mito ya maji katika njia kuu?
Why should your springs flow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares?
17
Yawe yako mwenyewe peke yako, Wala si ya wageni pamoja nawe.
Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers.
18
Chemchemi yako ibarikiwe; Nawe umfurahie mke wa ujana wako.
May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:
19
Ni ayala apendaye na paa apendezaye; Maziwa yake yakutoshe sikuzote; Na kwa upendo wake ushangilie daima.
A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.
20
Mwanangu! Mbona unashangilia malaya, Na kukikumbatia kifua cha mgeni?
Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, or embrace the bosom of a stranger?
21
Kwa maana njia za mwanadamu zi mbele za macho ya Bwana, Na mienendo yake yote huitafakari.
For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and the LORD examines all his paths.
22
Maovu yake yeye yatampata mdhalimu, Naye atashikwa kwa kamba za dhambi zake.
The iniquities of a wicked man entrap him; the cords of his sin entangle him.
23
Atakufa huyo kwa kukosa maonyo, Naye atapotea kwa wingi wa ujinga wake.
He dies for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.