Proverbs 8
1 Behold, wisdom calleth, and understanding sendeth forth her voice,
Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
2 On the top of high places, by the wayside, at the house where there are [many] paths doth she place herself.
Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
3 Alongside of gates, at the opening of the city, at the entrance of the town[-doors] doth she call loudly,
kando ya malango yaelekeayo mjini, kwenye maingilio, hulia kwa sauti kubwa, akisema:
4 Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice [goeth forth] to the sons of men,
“Ni ninyi wanaume, ninaowaita; ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wanadamu wote.
5 Learn, O ye simple, to understand prudence: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Ninyi ambao ni wajinga, pateni akili; ninyi mlio wapumbavu, pateni ufahamu.
6 Hear! for of noble things will I speak; and the opening of my lips shall be of what is equitable.
Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
7 For truth uttereth my palate ever, and the abomination of my lips is wickedness.
Kinywa changu husema lililo kweli, kwa maana midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
8 In righteousness are all the sayings of my mouth, there is in them nothing crooked or perverse.
Maneno yote ya kinywa changu ni haki; hakuna mojawapo lililopotoka wala ukaidi.
9 They are all evident to the man of understanding, and correct to those that have obtained knowledge.
Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
10 Accept my correction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Chagua mafundisho yangu badala ya fedha, maarifa badala ya dhahabu safi,
11 For wisdom is better than pearls; and all the things that men wish for are not equal to her.
kwa maana hekima ina thamani kuliko marijani na hakuna chochote unachohitaji kinacholingana naye.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and the knowledge of discreet thoughts do I discover.
“Mimi hekima, nakaa pamoja na busara; ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance, and the evil way: and the mouth of perverseness do I hate.
Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; ninachukia kiburi na majivuno, tabia mbaya na mazungumzo potovu.
14 Mine are counsel and sound wisdom: I am understanding; mine is might.
Ushauri na hukumu sahihi ni vyangu; nina ufahamu na nina nguvu.
15 Through me do kings reign, and chieftains give decrees [in] righteousness.
Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
16 Through me do princes rule, and the nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
17 I indeed love those that love me: and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
18 Riches and honor are with me, yea, enduring wealth and righteousness.
Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
19 My fruit is better than gold, and than fine gold; and my products, than choice silver.
Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu safi; kile nitoacho hupita fedha iliyo bora.
20 On the road of righteousness do I walk firmly, in the midst the paths of justice:
Natembea katika njia ya unyofu katika mapito ya haki,
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit a lasting possession; and their treasures will I fill
nawapa utajiri wale wanipendao na kuzijaza hazina zao.
22 The Lord created me as the beginning of his way, the first of his works from the commencement,
“Bwana aliniumba mwanzoni mwa kazi yake, kabla ya matendo yake ya zamani;
23 From eternity was I appointed chief, from the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
niliteuliwa tangu milele, tangu mwanzoni, kabla ya dunia kuumbwa.
24 When there were yet no depths, was I brought forth; when there were yet no springs laden heavily with water.
Wakati hazijakuwepo bahari, nilikwishazaliwa, wakati hazijakuwepo chemchemi zilizojaa maji;
25 Before the mountains were yet sunk down, before the hills was I brought forth:
kabla milima haijawekwa mahali pake, kabla vilima havijakuwepo, nilikwishazaliwa,
26 While as yet he had not made the land and open fields, nor the chief of the dust of the world.
kabla hajaumba dunia wala mashamba yake au vumbi lolote la dunia.
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle over the face of the deep;
Nilikuwepo alipoziweka mbingu mahali pake, wakati alichora mstari wa upeo wa macho juu ya uso wa kilindi,
28 When he fastened the skies above; when the springs of the deep became strong;
wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
29 When he assigned to the sea his decree, that the waters should not transgress his order: when he established firmly the foundations of the earth:
wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
30 Then was I near him, as a nursling: and I was day by day [his] delights, playing before him at all times;
Wakati huo nilikuwa fundi stadi kando yake. Nilijazwa na furaha siku baada ya siku, nikifurahi daima mbele zake,
31 Playing in the world, his earth; and having my delights with the sons of men.
nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
32 And now, O children [of men], hearken unto me! for happy those that observe my ways.
“Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
33 Hear correction, and be wise, and reject it not.
Sikilizeni mafundisho yangu mwe na hekima; msiyapuuze.
34 Happy is the man that hearkeneth unto me, watching day by day at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Heri mtu yule anisikilizaye mimi, akisubiri siku zote malangoni mwangu, akingoja kwenye vizingiti vya mlango wangu.
35 For he who findeth me findeth life, and he obtaineth favor from the Lord.
Kwa maana yeyote anipataye mimi amepata uzima na kujipatia kibali kutoka kwa Bwana.
36 But he that sinneth against me doth violence to his own soul: all those that hate me love death.
Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
