< Proverbs 4 >
1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.
Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,
Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.
baba alinifundisha akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.
Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.
usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.
Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.
Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”
Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.
Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.
Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.
Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.
Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.
Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu na hunywa divai ya vurugu.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.
Bali njia ya mwenye kutenda haki ni kama mwanga ung'aao, huangaza zaidi na zaidi hadi mchana inapowasili kwa ukamilifu.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.
Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.
Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.
Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.
Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.
Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.
Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.