Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars.
Hekima amejenga nyumba yake; amechonga nguzo zake saba.
2 She has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine in a bowl, and prepared her table.
Ameandaa nyama na kuchanganya divai yake; pia ameandaa meza yake.
3 She has sent forth her servants, calling with a loud proclamation to the feast, saying,
Amewatuma watumishi wake wa kike, naye huita kutoka mahali pa juu sana pa mji.
4 Whoso is foolish, let him turn aside to me: and to them that lack understanding she says,
Anawaambia wale wasio na akili, “Wote ambao ni wajinga na waje hapa!
5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink wine which I have mingled for you.
Njooni, mle chakula changu na mnywe divai niliyoichanganya.
6 Leave folly, that you may reign for ever; and seek wisdom, and improve understanding by knowledge.
Acheni njia zenu za ujinga nanyi mtaishi; tembeeni katika njia ya ufahamu.
7 He that reproves evil [men] shall get dishonour to himself; and he that rebukes an ungodly [man] shall disgrace himself.
“Yeyote anayemkosoa mwenye mzaha hukaribisha matukano; yeyote anayekemea mtu mwovu hupatwa na matusi.
8 Rebuke not evil [men], lest they should hate you: rebuke a wise [man], and he will love you.
Usimkemee mwenye mzaha la sivyo atakuchukia; mkemee mwenye hekima naye atakupenda.
9 Give an opportunity to a wise [man], and he will be wiser: instruct a just man, and he will receive more [instruction].
Mfundishe mtu mwenye hekima naye atakuwa na hekima zaidi; mfundishe mtu mwadilifu naye atazidi kufundishika.
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.
“Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha hekima, na kumjua Aliye Mtakatifu ni ufahamu.
11 For in this way you shall live long, and years of your life shall be added to you.
Kwa maana kwa msaada wangu siku zako zitakuwa nyingi, na miaka itaongezwa katika maisha yako.
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.
Kama wewe una hekima, hekima yako itakupa tuzo; kama wewe ni mtu wa mzaha, wewe mwenyewe ndiwe utateseka.”
13 A foolish and bold woman, who knows not modesty, comes to lack a morsel.
Mwanamke aitwaye Mpumbavu ana kelele; hana adabu na hana maarifa.
14 She sits at the doors of her house, on a seat openly in the streets,
Huketi kwenye mlango wa nyumba yake, juu ya kiti katika mahali pa juu sana pa mji,
15 calling to passers by, and to those that are going right on their ways;
akiita wale wapitao karibu, waendao moja kwa moja kwenye njia yao.
16 [saying], Whoso is most senseless of you, let him turn aside to me; and I exhort those that lack prudence, saying,
Anawaambia wale wasio na akili, “Wote ambao ni wajinga na waje hapa ndani!”
17 Take and enjoy secret bread, and the sweet water of theft.
“Maji yaliyoibiwa ni matamu; chakula kinacholiwa sirini ni kitamu!”
