Proverbs 3
1 My son, forget not my teaching; but let thy heart keep my commandments;
Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,
2 For length of days, and years of life, and peace, will they add to thee.
kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.
3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thy heart;
Usiache kamwe upendo na uaminifu vitengane nawe; vifunge shingoni mwako, viandike katika ubao wa moyo wako.
4 So shalt thou find grace and good favour in the sight of God and man.
Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thy heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding.
Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
6 In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct thy paths.
katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil;
Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.
9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase;
Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;
10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.
11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD, neither spurn thou His correction;
Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,
12 For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.
13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that obtaineth understanding.
Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,
14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
kwa maana hekima ana faida kuliko fedha na mapato yake ni bora kuliko ya dhahabu safi.
15 She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.
16 Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour.
Maisha marefu yako katika mkono wake wa kuume; katika mkono wake wa kushoto kuna utajiri na heshima.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
Njia zake zinapendeza, mapito yake yote ni amani.
18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one that holdest her fast.
Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomkumbatia; wale wamshikao watabarikiwa.
19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens.
Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;
20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.
21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;
Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;
22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thou shalt not dash thy foot.
Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
25 Be not afraid of sudden terror, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;
Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,
26 For the LORD will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being caught.
kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.
27 Withhold not good from him to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour: 'Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give'; when thou hast it by thee.
Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.
30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.
31 Envy thou not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,
32 For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD; but His counsel is with the upright.
kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.
33 The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked; but He blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
Laana ya Bwana i juu ya nyumba ya mwovu, lakini yeye huibariki nyumba ya mwenye haki.
34 If it concerneth the scorners, He scorneth them, but unto the humble He giveth grace.
Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.
35 The wise shall inherit honour; but as for the fools, they carry away shame.
Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.
