Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.
Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
2 These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight,
Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
3 that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair.
kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
4 These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people.
huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
5 Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,
wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
6 to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.
kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge— fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
8 My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;
Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
9 they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.
Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
10 My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.
Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide and attack innocent people for no reason.
Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;
12 Let us swallow them up alive, like Sheol takes away those who are healthy, and make them like those who fall 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 valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others.
Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
14 Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”
Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
15 My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;
Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
16 their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.
kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
17 For it is useless to spread the net in the sight of any bird.
Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush for their own lives.
Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
19 So are the ways of everyone who gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.
Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;
Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,
kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
22 “How long, you naive people, will you love being naive? How long, you mockers, will you delight in mockery, and how long, you fools, will you hate knowledge?
“Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
23 Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
24 I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.
Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
25 But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.
kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
26 I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes—
mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
27 when your fearful dread comes like a storm and disaster sweeps over 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 they will call upon me, and I will not answer; they will desperately call for me, but they will not find me.
“Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
29 Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
30 they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction.
kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
31 They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.
watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
32 For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference of fools will destroy them.
Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
33 But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster.”
Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
