Proverbs 4
1 Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
2 For I give you a good gift; forsake you not my law.
Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 For I also was a son obedient to [my] father, and loved in the sight of [my] mother:
Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
4 who spoke and instructed me, [saying], Let our speech be fixed in your heart, keep [our] commandments, forget them not:
baba alinifundisha akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
5 and do not neglect the speech of my mouth.
Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
6 And forsake it not, and it shall cleave to you: love it, and it shall keep you.
usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
8 Secure it, and it shall exalt you: honour it, that it may embrace you;
Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
9 that it may give to your head a crown of graces, and may cover you with a crown of delight.
Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
10 Hear, [my] son, and receive my words; and the years of your life shall be increased, that the resources of your life may be many.
Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
11 For I teach you the ways of wisdom; and I cause you to go in right paths.
Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 For when you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not be distressed.
Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
13 Take hold of my instruction; let it not go, —but keep it for yourself for your life.
Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
14 Go not in the ways of the ungodly, neither covet the ways of transgressors.
Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
15 In whatever place they shall pitch their camp, go not there; but turn from them, and pass away.
Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
16 For they can’t sleep, unless they have done evil: their sleep is taken away, and they rest not.
Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
17 For these live upon the bread of ungodliness, and are drunken with wine of transgression.
Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu na hunywa divai ya vurugu.
18 But the ways of the righteous shine like light; they go on and shine, until the day be fully come.
Bali njia ya mwenye kutenda haki ni kama mwanga ung'aao, huangaza zaidi na zaidi hadi mchana inapowasili kwa ukamilifu.
19 But the ways of the ungodly are dark; they know not how they stumble.
Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
20 [My] son, attend to my speech; and apply your ear to my words:
Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
21 that your fountains may not fail you; keep them in [your] heart.
Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
22 For they are life to those that find them, and health to all [their] flesh.
Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
23 Keep your heart with the utmost care; for out of these are the issues of life.
Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
24 Remove from you a froward mouth, and put far away from you unjust lips.
Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
25 Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids assent [to] just [things].
Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
26 Make straight paths for your feet, and order your ways aright.
Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
27 Turn not aside to the right hand nor to the left, but turn away your foot from an evil way.
Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
