Proverbs 3
1 [My] son, forget not my laws; but let your heart keep my words:
Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,
2 for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to you.
kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; but bind them about your neck:
Usiache kamwe upendo na uaminifu vitengane nawe; vifunge shingoni mwako, viandike katika ubao wa moyo wako.
4 so shall you find favour: and do you provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.
5 Trust in God with all your heart; and be not exalted in your own wisdom.
Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
6 In all your ways acquaint yourself with her, that she may rightly direct your paths.
katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.
7 Be not wise in your own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.
8 Then shall there be health to your body, and good keeping to your bones.
Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.
9 Honour the Lord with your just labours, and give him the first of your fruits of righteousness:
Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;
10 that your storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that your presses may burst forth with wine.
ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.
11 [My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,
12 for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.
13 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,
14 For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
kwa maana hekima ana faida kuliko fedha na mapato yake ni bora kuliko ya dhahabu safi.
15 And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.
Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.
16 For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
Maisha marefu yako katika mkono wake wa kuume; katika mkono wake wa kushoto kuna utajiri na heshima.
17 Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
Njia zake zinapendeza, mapito yake yote ni amani.
18 She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomkumbatia; wale wamshikao watabarikiwa.
19 God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;
20 By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.
21 [My] son, let [them] not pass from [you], but keep my counsel and understanding:
Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;
22 that your soul may live, and that there may be grace round your neck; and it shall be health to your flesh, and safety to your bones:
ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.
23 that you may go confidently in peace in all your ways, and that your foot may not stumble.
Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;
24 For if you rest, you shall be undismayed; and if you sleep, you shall slumber sweetly.
ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
25 And you shall not be afraid of alarm coming upon you, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,
26 For the Lord shall be over all your ways, and shall establish your foot that you be not moved.
kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.
27 Forbear not to do good to the poor, whenever your hand may have [power] to help [him].
Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.
28 Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while you are able to do [him] good: for you know not what the next day will bring forth.
Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
29 Devise not evil against your friend, living near you and trusting in you.
Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.
30 Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do you some harm.
Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.
31 Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do you covet their ways.
Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,
32 For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit amongst the righteous.
kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.
33 The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
Laana ya Bwana i juu ya nyumba ya mwovu, lakini yeye huibariki nyumba ya mwenye haki.
34 The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.
35 The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.
