Proverbs 23
1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
Unapoketi kula pamoja na mtawala, angalia kwa uangalifu kilichopo mbele yako,
2 and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
na kama ni mtu unayependa kula chakula sana weka kisu kooni.
3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
Usitamani vinono vyake maana ni chakula cha uongo.
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
Usifanye kazi sana ili kupata mali; uwe na busara ya kutosha ili ujue wakati wa kuacha.
5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
Je utaruhusu macho yako yaangaze juu yake? Itaondoka, maana itawaa mabawa kama tai na kuruka angani.
6 Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
Usile chakula cha yule mwenye jicho baya- na usiwe na shauku ya vinono vyake,
7 for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
maana ni mtu mwenye kuhesabu gharama ya chakula. “Kula na kunywa!” anakuambia, lakini moyo wake haupo pamoja nawe.
8 You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Utatapika kiasi kidogo ulichokula na utakuwa umepoteza sifa zako njema.
9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Usiongee katika usikivu wa mpumbavu, maana atadharau hekima ya maneno yako.
10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Usihamishe jiwe la mpaka wa kale au kunyang'anya mashamba ya yatima,
11 for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
maana Mkombozi wao ni imara na atatetea kesi yao dhidi yako.
12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
Elekeza moyo wako katika mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Usizuie kuadilisha mtoto, maana ukimchapa kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Ni wewe unayepaswa kumchapa kwa fimbo na kuikoa nafsi yake kuzimu. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una busara, basi moyo wangu utafurahi pia;
16 My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
sehemu zangu ndani kabisa zitafurahi sana midomo yako inaponena haki.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
Usiruhusu moyo wako kuwahusudu wenye dhambi, lakini endelea kumcha Yehova siku zote.
18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Hakika tumaini lako halitaondolewa na siku zako za hapo baadaye.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
Sikia- wewe! - mwanangu, na uwe mwenye busara na uelekeze moyo wako katika njia.
20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
Usishirikiane pamoja na walevi, au pamoja na walaji wa nyama walafi,
21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
maana mlevi na mlafi wanakuwa masikini na usingizi utawavika kwa matambara.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
Msikilize baba yako ambaye alikuzaa na usimdharau mama yako wakati akiwa mzee.
23 Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
Inunue kweli, lakini usiiuze; nunua hekima, nidhamu, na ufahamu.
24 The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
Baba yake mwenye haki atafurahia sana, na yule amzaaye mtoto mwenye busara atamfurahia.
25 May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
Mfurahishe baba yako na mama yako na yule aliyekuzaa afurahie.
26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako na macho yako yachunguze njia zangu.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
Maana malaya ni shimo refu, na mke wa mume mwingine ni kisima chembamba.
28 Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
Anavizia kama mnyang'anyi na huongeza idadi ya wadanganyifu miongoni mwa wanadamu.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Nani mwenye taabu? Nani mwenye huzuni? Nani mwenye mapigano? Nani mwenye malalamiko? Nani mwenye majeraha bila sababu? Nani mwenye macho mekundu?
30 Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
Ni wale ambao huzengea kwenye mvinyo, wale wanaojaribu kuchanganya mvinyo.
31 Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
Usiutazame mvinyo ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unametameta kwenye kikombe na kutelemka kwa uraini.
32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
Mwisho wake unauma kama nyoka na sumu yake kama kifutu.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
Macho yako yataona vitu vigeni na moyo wako utatamka vitu vya ukaidi.
34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
Utakuwa kama anayelala kwenye bahari au anayelala juu ya mlingoti. “
35 “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
Wamenipiga,” utasema, “lakini sikuumia. Wamenichapa, lakini sikuwa na hisia. Nitaamka lini? Nitatafuta kinywaji kingine.”
