Proverbs 31
1 These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
Misemo ya Mfalme Lemueli, usia wa mama yake aliyomfundisha:
2 You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
“Ee mwanangu, ee mwana wa tumbo langu, ee mwana wa nadhiri zangu,
3 Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
Usitumie nguvu zako kwa wanawake, uhodari wako kwa wale wanaowaharibu wafalme.
4 Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
“Ee Lemueli, haifai wafalme, haifai wafalme kunywa mvinyo, haifai watawala kutamani sana kileo,
5 If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
wasije wakanywa na kusahau vile sheria inavyoamuru na kuwanyima haki zao wote walioonewa.
6 Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
Wape kileo wale wanaoangamia, mvinyo wale walio na uchungu,
7 If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
Wanywe na kusahau umaskini wao na wasikumbuke taabu yao tena.
8 Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
“Sema kwa ajili ya wale wasioweza kujisemea, kwa ajili ya haki za wote walioachwa ukiwa.
9 Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
Sema na uamue kwa haki, tetea haki za maskini na wahitaji.”
10 It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
Mke mwenye sifa nzuri, ni nani awezaye kumpata? Yeye ni wa thamani sana kuliko marijani.
11 Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
Mume wake anamwamini kikamilifu wala hakosi kitu chochote cha thamani.
12 She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
Humtendea mumewe mema, wala si mabaya, siku zote za maisha yake.
13 She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
Huchagua sufu na kitani naye hufanya kazi kwa mikono yenye bidii.
14 She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
Yeye ni kama meli za biashara akileta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
Yeye huamka kungali bado giza huwapa jamaa yake chakula na mafungu kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
16 She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
Huangalia shamba na kulinunua, kutokana na mapato yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
17 She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
Hufanya kazi zake kwa nguvu, mikono yake ina nguvu kwa ajili ya kazi zake.
18 She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
Huona kwamba biashara yake ina faida, wala taa yake haizimiki usiku.
19 She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
Huweka mikono yake kwenye pia, navyo vidole vyake hushikilia kijiti chenye uzi.
20 She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
Huwanyooshea maskini mikono yake na kuwakunjulia wahitaji vitanga vyake.
21 She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
Theluji ishukapo, hana hofu kwa ajili ya watu wa nyumbani mwake, kwa maana wote wamevikwa nguo za kutia joto.
22 She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
Hutengeneza mazulia ya urembo ya kufunika kitanda chake, yeye huvaa kitani safi na urujuani.
23 Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
Mume wake anaheshimiwa kwenye lango la mji, aketipo miongoni mwa wazee wa nchi.
24 She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, naye huwauzia wafanyabiashara mishipi.
25 She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
Amevikwa nguvu na heshima, anaweza kucheka bila kuwa na hofu kwa siku zijazo.
26 When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
Huzungumza kwa hekima na mafundisho ya kuaminika yapo ulimini mwake.
27 She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
Huangalia mambo ya nyumbani mwake wala hali chakula cha uvivu.
28 Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
Watoto wake huamka na kumwita aliyebarikiwa, mumewe pia humsifu, akisema:
29 [He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
“Wanawake wengi hufanya vitu vyenye sifa nzuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
30 Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
Kujipamba ili kuvutia ni udanganyifu na uzuri unapita upesi, bali mwanamke anayemcha Bwana atasifiwa.
31 Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
Mpe thawabu anayostahili, nazo kazi zake na zimletee sifa kwenye lango la mji.
