Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
2 That one may learn wisdom and instruction, And receive words of understanding;
Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
3 That one may gain the instruction of prudence, Justice, equity, and uprightness;
kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
4 Which will give caution to the simple, To the young man wisdom and discretion;
huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
5 Let the wise man hear, and he will increase his knowledge, And the man of understanding will gain wise counsels;
wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
6 So as to understand a proverb and a deep maxim, The words of the wise and their dark sayings.
kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
8 Hear, O my son! the instruction of thy father, And neglect not the teaching of thy mother!
Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
9 For they shall be a graceful wreath for thy head, And a chain around thy neck.
Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
10 My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not!
Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us lurk secretly for him who is innocent in vain;
Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;
12 Let us swallow them up alive, like the underworld, Yea, in full health, as those that go down into the pit; (Sheol h7585)
tuwameze wakiwa hai kama kaburi, wakiwa wazima kama wale wanaotumbukia shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall find all kinds of precious substance, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
14 Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse;”—
Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
15 My son, walk thou not in their way, Refrain thy foot from their path!
Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
16 For their feet run to evil, And make haste to shed blood.
kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
17 For as the net is spread in vain Before the eyes of any bird,
Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
18 So they lie in wait for their own blood; They lurk secretly for their own lives.
Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
19 Such are the ways of every one greedy of unjust gain; It taketh away the life of the possessor thereof.
Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
20 Wisdom crieth out in the highway; In the market-place she uttereth her voice;
Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
21 At the head of the noisy streets she crieth aloud; At the entrances of the gates, throughout the city, she proclaimeth her words [[saying]]:
kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? How long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
“Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
23 Turn ye at my reproof! Behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make known my words to you!
Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
24 “Because I have called, and ye have refused, —Because I have stretched out my hand, and no one hath regarded.
Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
25 Because ye have rejected all my counsel, And have slighted my rebuke, —
kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh;
mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
27 When your fear cometh upon you like a storm. And destruction overtaketh you like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer! They will seek me early, But they shall not find me!
“Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
29 Because they have hated knowledge, And have not chosen the fear of the LORD, —
Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
30 Because they would not attend to my counsel, And have despised all my reproof, —
kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own devices;
watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
32 Yea, the turning away of the simple shall slay them, And the carelessness of fools shall destroy them.
Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
33 But whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell securely, And shall not be disquieted with the fear of evil.”
Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
