A Father's Instruction
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father,
And attend to know understanding.
Wanangu, yasikilizeni mausia ya baba yenu, Tegeni masikio mpate kujua ufahamu.
2 For I give you good doctrine,
Forsake ye not my law.
Kwa kuwa nawapa mafundisho mazuri; Msiiache sheria yangu.
3 For I was my father's son,
Tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
Maana nalikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, Mpole, mpenzi wa pekee wa mama yangu.
4 He taught me also, and said unto me,
Let thine heart retain my words:
Keep my commandments, and live.
Naye akanifundisha, akaniambia, Moyo wako uyahifadhi maneno yangu; Shika amri zangu ukaishi.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding:
Forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Jipatie hekima, jipatie ufahamu; usiusahau; Wala usiyakatae maneno ya kinywa changu.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:
Love her, and she shall keep thee.
Usimwache, naye atakuhifadhi; Umpende, naye atakulinda.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
And with all thy getting get understanding.
Bora hekima, basi jipatie hekima; Naam, kwa mapato yako yote jipatie ufahamu.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee:
She shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Umtukuze, naye atakukuza; Atakupatia heshima, ukimkumbatia.
9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace:
A crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Atakupa neema kuwa kilemba kichwani; Na kukukirimia taji ya uzuri.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings;
And the years of thy life shall be many.
Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzipokea kauli zangu; Na miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom;
I have led thee in right paths.
Nimekufundisha katika njia ya hekima; Nimekuongoza katika mapito ya unyofu.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened;
And when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Uendapo, hatua zako hazitadhiikika, Wala ukipiga mbio hutajikwaa.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go:
Keep her; for she is thy life.
Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; Mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked,
And go not in the way of evil men .
Usiingie katika njia ya waovu, Wala usitembee katika njia ya wabaya.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it,
Turn from it, and pass away.
Jiepushe nayo, usipite karibu nayo, Igeukie mbali, ukaende zako.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief;
And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Maana hawalali isipokuwa wametenda madhara; Huondolewa usingizi, ikiwa hawakumwangusha mtu.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu, Nao hunywa divai ya jeuri.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light,
That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Bali njia ya wenye haki ni kama nuru ing'aayo, Ikizidi kung'aa hata mchana mkamilifu.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness:
They know not at what they stumble.
Njia ya waovu ni kama giza; Hawajui ni kitu gani kiwakwazacho.
20 My son, attend to my words;
Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Mwanangu, sikiliza maneno yangu; Tega sikio lako, uzisikie kauli zangu.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes;
Keep them in the midst of thine heart.
Zisiondoke machoni pako; Uzihifadhi ndani ya moyo wako.
22 For they are life unto those that find them,
And health to all their flesh.
Maana ni uhai kwa wale wazipatao, Na afya ya mwili wao wote.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence;
For out of it are the issues of life.
Linda moyo wako kuliko yote uyalindayo; Maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth,
And perverse lips put far from thee.
Kinywa cha ukaidi ukitenge nawe, Na midomo ya upotovu uiweke mbali nawe.
25 Let thine eyes look right on,
And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Macho yako yatazame mbele, Na kope zako zitazame mbele yako sawasawa.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet,
And let all thy ways be established.
Ulisawazishe pito la mguu wako, Na njia zako zote zithibitike;
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left:
Remove thy foot from evil.
Usigeuke kwa kuume wala kwa kushoto; Ondoa mguu wako maovuni.
