Proverbs 23
1 If you sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before you:
Uketipo kula chakula na mtawala, angalia vyema kile kilicho mbele yako,
2 and apply your hand, knowing that it behoves you to prepare such [meats]: but if you are very insatiable,
na utie kisu kooni mwako kama ukiwa mlafi.
3 desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
Usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu kwa kuwa chakula hicho ni cha hila.
4 If you are poor, measure not yourself with a rich man; but refrain yourself in your wisdom.
Usijitaabishe ili kuupata utajiri, uwe na hekima kuonyesha kujizuia.
5 If you should fix your eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
Kufumba na kufumbua utajiri hutoweka, huwa kama umepata mabawa ghafula, ukaruka na kutoweka angani kama tai.
6 Sup not with an envious man, neither desire you his meats:
Usile chakula cha mtu mchoyo, usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu,
7 so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to yourself, nor eat your morsel with him:
kwa maana yeye ni aina ya mtu ambaye kila mara anafikiri juu ya gharama. Anakuambia, “Kula na kunywa,” lakini moyo wake hauko pamoja nawe.
8 for he will vomit it up, and spoil your fair words.
Utatapika kile kidogo ulichokula, nawe utakuwa umepoteza bure maneno yako ya kumsifu.
9 Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at your wise words.
Usizungumze na mpumbavu, kwa maana atadhihaki hekima ya maneno yako.
10 Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani wala kunyemelea kwenye mashamba ya yatima,
11 for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with you.
kwa kuwa Mtetezi wao ni mwenye nguvu, atalichukua shauri lao dhidi yako.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and prepare your ears for words of discretion.
Elekeza moyo wako kwenye mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
13 Refrain not from chastening a child; for if you beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
Usimnyime mtoto adhabu, ukimwadhibu kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Mwadhibu kwa fimbo na kuiokoa nafsi yake kutoka mautini. (Sheol h7585)
15 Son, if your heart be wise, you shall also gladden my heart;
Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una hekima, basi moyo wangu utafurahi,
16 and your lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
utu wangu wa ndani utafurahi, wakati midomo yako itakapozungumza lililo sawa.
17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be you in the fear of the Lord all the day.
Usiuruhusu moyo wako kuwaonea wivu wenye dhambi, bali kila mara uwe na bidii katika kumcha Bwana.
18 For if you should keep these things, you shall have posterity; and your hope shall not be removed.
Hakika kuna tumaini la baadaye kwa ajili yako, nalo tarajio lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
19 Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of your heart.
Sikiliza, mwanangu na uwe na hekima, weka moyo wako kwenye njia iliyo sawa.
20 Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
Usiwe miongoni mwa wanywao mvinyo, au wale walao nyama kwa pupa,
21 for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
kwa maana walevi na walafi huwa maskini, nako kusinzia huwavika matambara.
22 Listen, [my] son, to your father which begot you, and despise not [your mother] because she is grown old.
Msikilize baba yako, aliyekuzaa, wala usimdharau mama yako atakapokuwa mzee.
Nunua kweli wala usiiuze, pata hekima, adabu na ufahamu.
24 A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
Baba wa mwenye haki ana furaha kubwa, naye aliye na mwana mwenye hekima humfurahia.
25 Let your father and your mother rejoice over you, and let her that bore you be glad.
Baba yako na mama yako na wafurahi, mama aliyekuzaa na ashangilie!
26 [My] son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.
Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako, macho yako na yafuate njia zangu,
27 For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
kwa maana kahaba ni shimo refu na mwanamke mpotovu ni kisima chembamba.
28 For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
Kama mnyangʼanyi, hungojea akivizia, naye huzidisha wasio waaminifu miongoni mwa wanaume.
29 Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
Ni nani mwenye ole? Ni nani mwenye huzuni? Ni nani mwenye ugomvi? Ni nani mwenye malalamiko? Ni nani aliye na majeraha yasiyo na sababu? Ni nani mwenye macho mekundu?
30 Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
Ni hao wakaao sana kwenye mvinyo, hao waendao kuonja mabakuli ya mvinyo uliochanganywa.
31 For if you should set your eyes on bowls and cups, you shall afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
Usiukodolee macho mvinyo wakati ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unapometameta kwenye bilauri, wakati ushukapo taratibu!
32 But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one struck by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
Mwishowe huuma kama nyoka na kutia sumu yake kama nyoka mwenye sumu.
33 Whenever your eyes shall behold a strange woman, then your mouth shall speak perverse things.
Macho yako yataona mambo mageni na moyo wako kuwazia mambo yaliyopotoka.
34 And you shall lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
Utakuwa kama alalaye katikati ya bahari, alalaye juu ya kamba ya merikebu.
35 And you shall say, They struck me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
Utasema, “Wamenipiga lakini sikuumia! Wamenichapa, lakini sisikii! Nitaamka lini ili nikanywe tena?”
