Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so you will know what understanding is.
Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.
2 I am giving you good instructions; do not forsake my teaching.
Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 When I was a son of my father, the tender and only child of my mother,
Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
4 he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast to my words; keep my commands and live.
baba alinifundisha akisema, “Yashike maneno yangu yote kwa moyo wako wote; yashike maagizo yangu na wewe utaishi.
5 Acquire wisdom and understanding; do not forget and do not reject the words of my mouth;
Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
6 do not abandon wisdom and she will watch over you; love her and she will keep you safe.
Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.
7 Wisdom is the most important thing, so acquire wisdom and spend all you own so you can get understanding.
Hekima ni bora kuliko vitu vyote; kwa hiyo jipe hekima. Hata ikikugharimu vyote ulivyo navyo, pata ufahamu.
8 Cherish wisdom and she will exalt you; she will honor you when you embrace her.
Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
9 She will put a wreath of honor on your head; she will give you a beautiful crown.”
Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
10 Listen, my son, and pay attention to my words, and you will have many years in your life.
Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
11 I direct you in the way of wisdom; I lead you down straight paths.
Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 When you walk, no one will stand in your way and if you run, you will not stumble.
Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it, for it is your life.
Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
14 Do not follow the path of the wicked and do not go along the way of those who do evil.
Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.
15 Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it and go another way.
Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
16 For they cannot sleep until they do evil and they are robbed of sleep until they cause someone to stumble.
Kwa kuwa hawawezi kulala mpaka watende uovu; wanashindwa hata kusinzia mpaka wamwangushe mtu.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.
18 But the path of righteous people is like the first light that grows brighter; it shines more and more until the fullness of the day comes.
Njia ya wenye haki ni kama nuru ya kwanza ya mapambazuko, ambayo hungʼaa zaidi na zaidi mpaka mchana mkamilifu.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness— they do not know what it is they stumble over.
Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.
Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.
21 Do not let them turn away from your eyes; keep them in your heart.
Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;
22 For my words are life to those who find them and health to their whole body.
kwa sababu ni uzima kwa wale wanaoyapata na afya kwa mwili wote wa mwanadamu.
23 Keep your heart safe and guard it with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.
Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
24 Put crooked speech away from you and put corrupt talk far from you.
Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead and fix your gaze straight before you.
Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
26 Make a level path for your foot; then all your ways will be secure.
Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
27 Do not turn aside to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.
Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.
