Proverbs 4
1 My children, listen to what I am teaching you. If you pay attention, you will understand what is wise.
Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.
2 What I am teaching you is good, so do not turn away from it.
Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 When I was a young boy, loved by my mother,
Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
4 my father told me, “Remember my words; if you obey my commandments, you will live [a long time].
baba alinifundisha akisema, “Yashike maneno yangu yote kwa moyo wako wote; yashike maagizo yangu na wewe utaishi.
5 Obtain wisdom and understanding, and (do not abandon/hold fast to) [LIT] what I have taught you.
Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
6 Do not turn away from wisdom, because if you are wise, you will be protected [from all evil/danger]. If you love wisdom, wisdom [PRS] will guard you.
Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.
7 The most important thing that you can do is to get wisdom. Even if you obtain many other things, the best thing is to know what things are wise.
Hekima ni bora kuliko vitu vyote; kwa hiyo jipe hekima. Hata ikikugharimu vyote ulivyo navyo, pata ufahamu.
8 If you consider being wise to be very valuable, [people] will think very highly of you. If you cling to wisdom [like you would cling to a woman you love], [many people] will honor you.
Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
9 If you become wise, that will for you be [like] a beautiful wreath that is put {someone puts} on your head; it will be [like] a king’s glorious crown.” [That is what my father told me].
Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
10 [So now I say], “My son, heed what I say. If you do that, you will live a [good] long life.
Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
11 I am teaching you the way to live wisely; I am showing you how to act justly [toward others].
Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 If you live wisely, when you decide to do something, you will succeed [LIT].
Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
13 Hold fast to the things I have taught you to do, and do not let them go. Guard them, because they [will be the source of a good] life.
Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
14 Do not do the things that wicked people do; [do not behave like they do]; do not even walk on the roads that evil [people] walk on [MET].
Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.
15 Stay away from those roads; turn aside and walk on other roads;
Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
16 because evil people cannot sleep if they have not done some evil deed [on that day]. They cannot rest if they have not harmed someone.
Kwa kuwa hawawezi kulala mpaka watende uovu; wanashindwa hata kusinzia mpaka wamwangushe mtu.
17 What they eat and what they drink are things that they have obtained by acting wickedly and violently.”
Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.
18 The behavior of good/righteous [people] is like the light [that begins to shine] at dawn and then [continues to] shine brighter until the brightest time of day.
Njia ya wenye haki ni kama nuru ya kwanza ya mapambazuko, ambayo hungʼaa zaidi na zaidi mpaka mchana mkamilifu.
19 [But] the behavior of wicked [people] is like deep/thick darkness. [Because it is very dark], they cannot see the things that cause them to stumble.
Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
20 My son, pay attention to what I am saying. Listen to my words carefully.
Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.
21 Keep them close to you; let them penetrate your inner being,
Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;
22 because you will have [PRS] [a good] life and [good] health if you [search for them and] find them.
kwa sababu ni uzima kwa wale wanaoyapata na afya kwa mwili wote wa mwanadamu.
23 It is very important that you be careful about what you think, because what you think controls [MET] the things that you do.
Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
24 Do not say anything that deceives [others] and never say what is not true.
Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.
25 Keep looking straight ahead toward the events that are before you, and do not turn aside.
Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
26 Plan carefully where you will go and what you will do, and then stay on that road. Then what you do will be right.
Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
27 Do not leave the straight road by turning to the left or to the right. [Do only what is right] and keep yourself from [doing what is] evil.
Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.
