Proverbs 1
1 The parables of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel.
Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
2 To know wisdom, and instruction:
Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
3 To understand the words of prudence: and to receive the instruction of doctrine, justice, and judgment, and equity:
kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
4 To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and understanding.
huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
5 A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth, shall possess governments.
wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
6 He shall understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.
kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
9 That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck.
Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
10 My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them.
Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
11 If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for the innocent without cause:
Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;
12 Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
tuwameze wakiwa hai kama kaburi, wakiwa wazima kama wale wanaotumbukia shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils.
Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
14 Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse.
Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
15 My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.
Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
17 But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings.
Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
18 And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls.
Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
19 So the wage of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors.
Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
20 Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:
Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
21 At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying:
kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
22 O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate knowledge?
“Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
23 Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words.
Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
24 Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded.
Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
25 You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.
kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
26 I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared.
mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
27 When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon you:
wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
28 Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning and shall not find me:
“Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
29 Because they have hated instruction and received not the fear of the Lord,
Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
30 Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.
kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be filled with their own devices.
watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
32 The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
33 But he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance, without fear of evils.
Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
