< Proverbs 1 >

1 Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
2 For knowing wisdom and instruction, For understanding sayings of intelligence,
Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
3 For receiving the instruction of wisdom, Righteousness, judgment, and uprightness,
kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
4 For giving to simple ones—prudence, To a youth—knowledge and discretion.
huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
5 (The wise hear and increase learning, And the intelligent obtain counsels.)
wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
6 For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.
kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
7 Fear of YHWH [is the] beginning of knowledge, Fools have despised wisdom and instruction!
Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
8 Hear, my son, the instruction of your father, And do not leave the law of your mother,
Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
9 For they [are] a graceful wreath to your head, And chains to your neck.
Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not be willing.
Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
11 If they say, “Come with us, we lay wait for blood, We watch secretly for the innocent without cause,
Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;
12 We swallow them as Sheol—alive, And whole—as those going down [to] the pit, (Sheol h7585)
tuwameze wakiwa hai kama kaburi, wakiwa wazima kama wale wanaotumbukia shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
13 We find every precious substance, We fill our houses [with] spoil,
Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
14 You cast your lot among us, One purse is—to all of us.”
Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
15 My son! Do not go in the way with them, Withhold your foot from their path,
Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
16 For their feet run to evil, And they hurry to shed blood.
kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
17 Surely in vain is the net spread out before the eyes of any bird.
Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
18 And they lay wait for their own blood, They watch secretly for their own lives.
Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
19 So [are] the paths of every gainer of dishonest gain, It takes the life of its owners.
Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in an out-place, She gives forth her voice in broad places,
Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
21 She calls at the head of the multitudes, In the openings of the gates, In the city she says her sayings:
kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
22 “Until when, you simple, do you love simplicity? And have scorners desired their scorning? And do fools hate knowledge?
“Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
23 Turn back at my reproof, behold, I pour forth my spirit to you, I make known my words with you.
Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
24 Because I have called, and you refuse, I stretched out my hand, and none is attending,
Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
25 And you slight all my counsel, And you have not desired my reproof.
kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
26 I also laugh in your calamity, I deride when your fear comes,
mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
27 When your fear comes as destruction, And your calamity comes as a windstorm, When adversity and distress come on you.
wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
28 Then they call me, and I do not answer, They seek me earnestly, and do not find me.
“Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
29 Because that they have hated knowledge, And have not chosen the fear of YHWH.
Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
30 They have not consented to my counsel, They have despised all my reproof,
kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
31 And they eat of the fruit of their way, And they are filled from their own counsels.
watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
32 For the turning of the simple slays them, And the security of the foolish destroys them.
Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
33 And whoever is listening to me dwells confidently, And [is] quiet from fear of evil!”
Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”

< Proverbs 1 >