Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye sons, the correction of a father, and attend, that ye may know understanding.
Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.
2 For, good teaching, have I given you, mine instruction, do not ye forsake.
Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 For, a son, became I to my father, tender and most precious in the sight of my mother.
Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
4 So he taught me, and said to me—Let thy heart, lay hold of 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 Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding, Do not forget, neither decline thou from the sayings of my mouth.
Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
6 Do not forsake her, and she will guard thee, —love her and she will keep thee.
Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.
7 The principal thing, is wisdom, acquire thou wisdom, With all thine acquisition, acquire thou understanding.
Hekima ni bora kuliko vitu vyote; kwa hiyo jipe hekima. Hata ikikugharimu vyote ulivyo navyo, pata ufahamu.
8 Exalt her, and she will set thee on high, she will bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her:
Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
9 She will give for thy head, a wreath of beauty, A crown of adorning, will she bestow upon thee.
Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and they will multiply to thee the years of life.
Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
11 In the way of wisdom, have I taught thee, I have guided thee in tracks of uprightness.
Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 When thou walkest, thy step shall not be hemmed in, and, if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
13 Take fast hold of correction, let her not go, —keep her, for, she, is thy life.
Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
14 Upon the path of the lawless, do not thou enter, and do not advance in the way of the wicked:
Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.
15 Avoid it, do not pass thereon—turn from it, and depart.
Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
16 For they sleep not, unless they can do mischief, —They rob themselves of their sleep, if they cannot cause someone to stumble,
Kwa kuwa hawawezi kulala mpaka watende uovu; wanashindwa hata kusinzia mpaka wamwangushe mtu.
17 For they consume bread gotten by lawlessness, and, wine obtained by violence, they drink.
Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.
18 But, the path of the righteous, is as the light of dawn, —going on and brightening, unto meridian 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 lawless, is like darkness, they know not, at what they stumble.
Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
20 My son, to my words, attend, to my sayings, incline thou thine ear;
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, life, they are, to them who find them, —and, to every part of one’s flesh, they bring healing.
kwa sababu ni uzima kwa wale wanaoyapata na afya kwa mwili wote wa mwanadamu.
23 Above all that must be guarded, keep thou 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 Remove from thee, perverseness of mouth, and, craftiness of lips, put far from thee.
Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.
25 Let, thine eyes, right onward, look, —and, thine eyelashes, point straight before thee.
Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
26 Make level the track of thy foot, that, all thy ways, may be directed aright:
Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
27 Decline not, to the right hand or to the left, —Turn away thy foot from wickedness.
Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.
