Proverbs 31
1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy with which his mother instructed him.
Misemo ya Mfalme Lemueli, usia wa mama yake aliyomfundisha:
2 What [hast thou done], O my son: and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my vows?
“Ee mwanangu, ee mwana wa tumbo langu, ee mwana wa nadhiri zangu,
3 Give not unto women thy vigor, nor thy ways to those that ruin kings.
Usitumie nguvu zako kwa wanawake, uhodari wako kwa wale wanaowaharibu wafalme.
4 Not for kings, O Lemoel, not for kings [it is fitting] to drink wine, nor for princes, strong drink:
“Ee Lemueli, haifai wafalme, haifai wafalme kunywa mvinyo, haifai watawala kutamani sana kileo,
5 Lest either might drink, and forget what is written in the law, and pervert the cause of all the afflicted.
wasije wakanywa na kusahau vile sheria inavyoamuru na kuwanyima haki zao wote walioonewa.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those who have an embittered soul.
Wape kileo wale wanaoangamia, mvinyo wale walio na uchungu,
7 Let such a one drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his trouble no more.
Wanywe na kusahau umaskini wao na wasikumbuke taabu yao tena.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all fatherless children.
“Sema kwa ajili ya wale wasioweza kujisemea, kwa ajili ya haki za wote walioachwa ukiwa.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and decide the cause of the poor and needy.
Sema na uamue kwa haki, tetea haki za maskini na wahitaji.”
10 Who can find a virtuous woman: for far above pearls is her value.
Mke mwenye sifa nzuri, ni nani awezaye kumpata? Yeye ni wa thamani sana kuliko marijani.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, and he will not see his gain diminish.
Mume wake anamwamini kikamilifu wala hakosi kitu chochote cha thamani.
12 She treateth him well and not ill, all the days of her life.
Humtendea mumewe mema, wala si mabaya, siku zote za maisha yake.
13 She seeketh for wool and flax, and worketh with her willing hands.
Huchagua sufu na kitani naye hufanya kazi kwa mikono yenye bidii.
14 She is become like the merchant's ships: from afar doth she bring her food.
Yeye ni kama meli za biashara akileta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
15 And she riseth while it is yet night, and giveth provision to her household, and a task to her maidens.
Yeye huamka kungali bado giza huwapa jamaa yake chakula na mafungu kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
16 She thinketh of a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
Huangalia shamba na kulinunua, kutokana na mapato yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
17 She girdeth with strength her loins, and giveth vigor to her arms.
Hufanya kazi zake kwa nguvu, mikono yake ina nguvu kwa ajili ya kazi zake.
18 She perceiveth that her profit is good: [therefore] her lamp goeth not out by night.
Huona kwamba biashara yake ina faida, wala taa yake haizimiki usiku.
19 She stretcheth out her hands to the spindle, and her palms hold fast the distaff.
Huweka mikono yake kwenye pia, navyo vidole vyake hushikilia kijiti chenye uzi.
20 She spreadeth out wide her open palm to the poor: yea, her hands she stretcheth forth to the needy.
Huwanyooshea maskini mikono yake na kuwakunjulia wahitaji vitanga vyake.
21 She hath no fear for her household of the snow: for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
Theluji ishukapo, hana hofu kwa ajili ya watu wa nyumbani mwake, kwa maana wote wamevikwa nguo za kutia joto.
22 Tapestry-covering she maketh for herself: of linen and purple is her attire.
Hutengeneza mazulia ya urembo ya kufunika kitanda chake, yeye huvaa kitani safi na urujuani.
23 Well known is in the gates her husband, when he sitteth with the elders of the land.
Mume wake anaheshimiwa kwenye lango la mji, aketipo miongoni mwa wazee wa nchi.
24 Fine tunics she maketh, and selleth them, and girdles she furnisheth unto the merchant.
Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, naye huwauzia wafanyabiashara mishipi.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing: and she smileth at the coming of the last day.
Amevikwa nguvu na heshima, anaweza kucheka bila kuwa na hofu kwa siku zijazo.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom, and the law of kindness is on her tongue.
Huzungumza kwa hekima na mafundisho ya kuaminika yapo ulimini mwake.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she doth not eat.
Huangalia mambo ya nyumbani mwake wala hali chakula cha uvivu.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband, also, and he praiseth her:
Watoto wake huamka na kumwita aliyebarikiwa, mumewe pia humsifu, akisema:
29 “Many daughters have done virtuously; but thou excellest them all.”
“Wanawake wengi hufanya vitu vyenye sifa nzuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
30 False is grace, and vain is beauty: a woman only that feareth the Lord shall indeed be praised.
Kujipamba ili kuvutia ni udanganyifu na uzuri unapita upesi, bali mwanamke anayemcha Bwana atasifiwa.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.
Mpe thawabu anayostahili, nazo kazi zake na zimletee sifa kwenye lango la mji.
