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 builded; 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 riches.
Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
6 For with wise advice thou shalt 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 as unattainable to a fool as corals; he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
8 He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
9 The thought of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men.
Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small indeed.
Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
11 Deliver them that are drawn unto death; and those that are ready to be slain wilt thou forbear to rescue?
Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
12 If thou sayest: 'Behold, we knew not this', doth not He that weigheth the hearts consider it? And He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? And shall not He render to every man according to his works?
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 My son, eat thou honey, for it is good, and the 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 know thou wisdom to be unto thy soul; if thou hast found it, then shall there be a future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
15 Lie not in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting-place;
Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
16 For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again, but the wicked stumble under adversity.
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 the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.
au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
19 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
20 For there will 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 thou the LORD and the king, and 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 from them both?
maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
23 These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
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 execrate him;
Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
25 But to them that decide justly shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
26 He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; 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 deceive not 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 the slothful, and by the vineyard of the 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, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
Miiba imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
32 Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction.
Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
33 'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep' —
Kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, kupumzika kwa kukunja mikono kidogo-
34 So shall thy poverty come as a runner, and thy want as an armed man.
na umasikini huja kwa kutembea juu yako, na mahitaji yako kama askari mwenye silaha.
