Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.
2 For I give you good doctrine; forsake ye not my teaching.
Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 For I was a son unto my father, tender and an only one in the sight of my mother.
Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
4 And he taught me, and said unto me: 'Let thy heart hold fast my words, keep my commandments, and live;
baba alinifundisha akisema, “Yashike maneno yangu yote kwa moyo wako wote; yashike maagizo yangu na wewe utaishi.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; love her, and she will keep thee.
Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.
7 The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom; yea, with all thy getting get understanding.
Hekima ni bora kuliko vitu vyote; kwa hiyo jipe hekima. Hata ikikugharimu vyote ulivyo navyo, pata ufahamu.
8 Extol her, and she will exalt thee; she will bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
9 She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; a crown of glory will she bestow on thee.'
Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 When thou goest, thy step shall not be straitened; and if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
13 Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go; keep her, for she is thy life.
Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and walk not in the way of evil men.
Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass on.
Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Kwa kuwa hawawezi kulala mpaka watende uovu; wanashindwa hata kusinzia mpaka wamwangushe mtu.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.
18 But the path of the righteous is as the light of dawn, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
Njia ya wenye haki ni kama nuru ya kwanza ya mapambazuko, ambayo hungʼaa zaidi na zaidi mpaka mchana mkamilifu.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble.
Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart.
Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
kwa sababu ni uzima kwa wale wanaoyapata na afya kwa mwili wote wa mwanadamu.
23 Above all that thou guardest keep thy heart; for out of it are the issues of life.
Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.
25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
26 Make plain the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left; remove thy foot from evil.
Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.
