Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
2 for their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
kwa sababu mioyo yao inapanga njama za vurugu na midomo ya huongea juu ya madhara.
3 Through wisdom is a house built, and by understanding it is established;
Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
4 and by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant substance.
Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
6 For with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.
Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.
Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
9 The purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.
Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
10 [If] thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.
Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
11 Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to slaughter.
Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.
Kama utasema, “Tazama, hatujui chochote juu ya hili,” je yule anayepima mioyo hajui unachosema? Na yule anayelinda maisha yako, je hajui? Je Mungu hatampa kila mmoja kile anachostahili?
13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:
Mwanangu, kula asali kwa kuwa ni nzuri, kwa sababu matone ya sega la asali ni matamu unapoonja.
14 so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.
Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
16 For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.
Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
18 lest Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.
au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, [and] be not envious of the wicked:
Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
20 for there shall be no future to the evil [man]; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
21 My son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle not with them that are given to change.
Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
23 These things also come from the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him;
Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
25 but to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing cometh upon them.
Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
26 He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.
Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
27 Prepare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.
Andaa kazi yako ya nje, na tayarisha kila kitu kwa ajili yako mwenyewe shambani; baada ya hapo, jenga nyumba yako.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?
Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me, I will render to the man according to his work.
Usiseme, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
30 I went by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;
Nilikwenda jirani na shamba la mtu mvivu, nikapita kwenye shamba la mzabibu la mtu asiye na akili.
31 and lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.
Miiba imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
32 Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I received instruction:
Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
33 — A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!
Kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, kupumzika kwa kukunja mikono kidogo-
34 So shall thy poverty come [as] a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.
na umasikini huja kwa kutembea juu yako, na mahitaji yako kama askari mwenye silaha.
