Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
kwa maana mioyo yao hupanga mambo ya jeuri, nayo midomo yao husema juu ya kuleta madhara.
3 Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established:
Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
5 A wise man [is] strong; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counselors [there is] safety.
kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
7 Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
9 The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the scorner [is] an abomination to men.
Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
10 [If] thou faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.
Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
11 If thou forbearest to deliver [them that are] drawn to death, and [those that are] ready to be slain;
Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider [it]? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth [not] he know [it]? and will [not] he render to [every] man according to his works?
Kama mkisema, “Lakini hatukujua lolote kuhusu hili,” je, yule apimaye mioyo halitambui hili? Je, yule awalindaye maisha yenu halijui hili? Je, hatamlipa kila mtu kulingana na aliyotenda?
13 My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honey-comb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:
Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
14 So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] to thy soul: when thou hast found [it], then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
Ujue pia kwamba hekima ni tamu kwa nafsi yako, kama ukiipata, kuna matumaini kwako ya siku zijazo, nalo tumaini lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; destroy not his resting-place:
Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
16 For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.
17 Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.
18 Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil [men], neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil [man]; the candle of the wicked shall be extinguished.
kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:
Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
kwa maana hao wawili watatuma maangamizi ya ghafula juu yao, naye ni nani ajuaye maafa wawezayo kuleta?
23 These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
24 He that saith to the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
Yeyote amwambiaye mwenye hatia, “Wewe huna hatia,” Kabila zitamlaani na mataifa yatamkana.
25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
26 [Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer.
Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.
Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Nilipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, karibu na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili,
31 And lo, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.
miiba ilikuwa imeota kila mahali, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa na magugu, na ukuta wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
32 Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it], [and] received instruction.
Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
34 So shall thy poverty come [as] one that traveleth; and thy want as an armed man.
hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
