Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye sons, the correction of a father, and attend, that ye may know understanding.
Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
2 For, good teaching, have I given you, mine instruction, do not ye forsake.
Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 For, a son, became I to my father, tender and most precious in the sight of my mother.
Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole 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 akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
5 Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding, Do not forget, neither decline thou from the sayings of my mouth.
Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
6 Do not forsake her, and she will guard thee, —love her and she will keep thee.
usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
7 The principal thing, is wisdom, acquire thou wisdom, With all thine acquisition, acquire thou understanding.
Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
8 Exalt her, and she will set thee on high, she will bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her:
Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
9 She will give for thy head, a wreath of beauty, A crown of adorning, will she bestow upon thee.
Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and they will multiply to thee the years of life.
Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
11 In the way of wisdom, have I taught thee, I have guided thee in tracks of uprightness.
Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 When thou walkest, thy step shall not be hemmed in, and, if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
13 Take fast hold of correction, let her not go, —keep her, for, she, is thy life.
Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
14 Upon the path of the lawless, do not thou enter, and do not advance in the way of the wicked:
Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
15 Avoid it, do not pass thereon—turn from it, and depart.
Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
16 For they sleep not, unless they can do mischief, —They rob themselves of their sleep, if they cannot cause someone to stumble,
Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
17 For they consume bread gotten by lawlessness, and, wine obtained by violence, they drink.
Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu na hunywa divai ya vurugu.
18 But, the path of the righteous, is as the light of dawn, —going on and brightening, unto meridian day.
Bali njia ya mwenye kutenda haki ni kama mwanga ung'aao, huangaza zaidi na zaidi hadi mchana inapowasili kwa ukamilifu.
19 The way of the lawless, is like darkness, they know not, at what they stumble.
Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
20 My son, to my words, attend, to my sayings, incline thou thine ear;
Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes, keep them in the midst of thy heart;
Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
22 For, life, they are, to them who find them, —and, to every part of one’s flesh, they bring healing.
Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
23 Above all that must be guarded, keep thou thy heart, for, out of it, are the issues of life.
Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
24 Remove from thee, perverseness of mouth, and, craftiness of lips, put far from thee.
Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
25 Let, thine eyes, right onward, look, —and, thine eyelashes, point straight before thee.
Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
26 Make level the track of thy foot, that, all thy ways, may be directed aright:
Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
27 Decline not, to the right hand or to the left, —Turn away thy foot from wickedness.
Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
