Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
Ũũgĩ nĩakĩte nyũmba yake; nĩaicũhĩtie itugĩ ciayo mũgwanja.
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
Nĩahaarĩirie nyama, na akahaarĩria ndibei, o na akaara metha yake.
3 She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
Nĩatũmĩte ndungata ciake cia airĩtu nja, na nĩaretana arĩ harĩa hatũũgĩru mũno itũũra-inĩ rĩrĩa inene, akoiga atĩrĩ:
4 Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
“Andũ arĩa othe matarĩ na ũũgĩ nĩmoke gũkũ!” Ningĩ akeera andũ arĩa maagĩĩte ũtaũku atĩrĩ,
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
Ũkai mũrĩe irio ciakwa, na mũnyue ndibei ĩrĩa ndĩmũthondekeire.
6 Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
Tiganai na mĩthiĩre yanyu ĩtarĩ ya ũũgĩ, na nĩmũgũtũũra muoyo; cookai gũthiiaga na njĩra ya ũtaũku.
7 He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
“Ũrĩa wothe ũtaaraga mũnyũrũrania eĩtagĩria irumi; na ũrĩa wothe ũkaanagia mũndũ mwaganu egĩĩragĩra njono.
8 Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.
Ndũkanataare mũnyũrũrania, nĩguo ndagagũthũũre; kaania mũndũ mũũgĩ, nake nĩegũkwenda.
9 Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
Taara mũndũ mũũgĩ na nĩegũkĩrĩrĩria kũũhĩga; mũndũ mũthingu mũrute, na nĩekuongerera ũũgĩ wake.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the counsel of saints is understanding: for to know the law is [the character] of a sound mind.
“Kĩambĩrĩria kĩa ũũgĩ nĩ gwĩtigĩra Jehova, na kũmenya Ũrĩa Mũtheru nĩkuo gũtaũkĩrwo.
11 For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
Nĩgũkorwo nĩ ũndũ wakwa matukũ maku nĩmakaingĩha, na wongererwo mĩaka ya gũtũũra muoyo.
12 Son, if you be wise for yourself, you shall also be wise for your neighbours; and if you should prove wicked, you alone will bear the evil. He that stays himself upon falsehoods, attempts to rule the winds, and the same will pursue birds in their fight: for he has forsaken the ways of his own vineyard, and he has caused the axles of his own husbandry to go astray; and he goes through a dry desert, and a [land] appointed to drought, and he gathers barrenness with his hands.
Ũngĩkorwo ũrĩ mũũgĩ-rĩ, ũũgĩ waku nĩũgakũguna; na ũngĩkorwo ũrĩ mũnyũrũrania-rĩ, we nowe ũkaanyariirĩka.”
13 A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
Mũndũ-wa-nja ũrĩa wĩtagwo Mũkĩĩgu nĩ wa inegene; we ndarĩ mũtugo, na ndarĩ ũmenyo.
14 She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
Aikaraga thĩ mũrango-inĩ wa nyũmba yake, agaikarĩra gĩtĩ harĩa hatũũgĩru mũno itũũra-inĩ rĩrĩa inene,
15 calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
ageetaga arĩa marehĩtũkĩra, arĩa marethiĩra na njĩra ciao.
16 [saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
Ameeraga atĩrĩ, “Andũ arĩa othe matarĩ na ũũgĩ nĩmoke gũkũ!” Nao arĩa maagĩĩte ũtaũku akameera atĩrĩ:
17 Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
“Maaĩ ma kũiya marĩ mũrĩo; o na irio iria irĩĩagĩrwo hitho-inĩ irĩ cama!”
