Proverbs 8
1 You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
2 For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
3 For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
kando ya malango yaelekeayo mjini, kwenye maingilio, hulia kwa sauti kubwa, akisema:
4 You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
“Ni ninyi wanaume, ninaowaita; ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wanadamu wote.
5 O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
Ninyi ambao ni wajinga, pateni akili; ninyi mlio wapumbavu, pateni ufahamu.
6 Listen to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
7 For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
Kinywa changu husema lililo kweli, kwa maana midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
Maneno yote ya kinywa changu ni haki; hakuna mojawapo lililopotoka wala ukaidi.
9 They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
10 Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
Chagua mafundisho yangu badala ya fedha, maarifa badala ya dhahabu safi,
11 For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
kwa maana hekima ina thamani kuliko marijani na hakuna chochote unachohitaji kinacholingana naye.
12 I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
“Mimi hekima, nakaa pamoja na busara; ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
13 The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; ninachukia kiburi na majivuno, tabia mbaya na mazungumzo potovu.
14 Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
Ushauri na hukumu sahihi ni vyangu; nina ufahamu na nina nguvu.
15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
16 By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
17 I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
18 Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions and righteousness.
Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
19 [It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu safi; kile nitoacho hupita fedha iliyo bora.
20 I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgement;
Natembea katika njia ya unyofu katika mapito ya haki,
21 that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember [also] to recount the things of old.
nawapa utajiri wale wanipendao na kuzijaza hazina zao.
22 The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
“Bwana aliniumba mwanzoni mwa kazi yake, kabla ya matendo yake ya zamani;
23 He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
niliteuliwa tangu milele, tangu mwanzoni, kabla ya dunia kuumbwa.
24 even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
Wakati hazijakuwepo bahari, nilikwishazaliwa, wakati hazijakuwepo chemchemi zilizojaa maji;
25 before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
kabla milima haijawekwa mahali pake, kabla vilima havijakuwepo, nilikwishazaliwa,
26 The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
kabla hajaumba dunia wala mashamba yake au vumbi lolote la dunia.
27 When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
Nilikuwepo alipoziweka mbingu mahali pake, wakati alichora mstari wa upeo wa macho juu ya uso wa kilindi,
28 and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
29 decree. and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
30 I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
Wakati huo nilikuwa fundi stadi kando yake. Nilijazwa na furaha siku baada ya siku, nikifurahi daima mbele zake,
31 For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced amongst the children of men.
nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
32 Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
“Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
33 [Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
Sikilizeni mafundisho yangu mwe na hekima; msiyapuuze.
34 watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
Heri mtu yule anisikilizaye mimi, akisubiri siku zote malangoni mwangu, akingoja kwenye vizingiti vya mlango wangu.
35 For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favour from the Lord.
Kwa maana yeyote anipataye mimi amepata uzima na kujipatia kibali kutoka kwa Bwana.
36 But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
