Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
kwa sababu mioyo yao inapanga njama za vurugu na midomo ya huongea juu ya madhara.
3 Through wisdom is a house built; and by understanding it is established:
Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
5 A wise man [is] strong; and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counselors [there is] safety.
maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
7 Wisdom [is] too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
9 The thought of foolishness [is] sin: and the scorner [is] an abomination to men.
Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
10 [If] thou faintest in the day of adversity, thy strength [is] small.
Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
11 If thou forbearest to deliver [them that are] drawn to death, and [those that are] ready to be slain;
Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
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 utasema, “Tazama, hatujui chochote juu ya hili,” je yule anayepima mioyo hajui unachosema? Na yule anayelinda maisha yako, je hajui? Je Mungu hatampa kila mmoja kile anachostahili?
13 My son, eat thou honey, because [it is] good; and the honey-comb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:
Mwanangu, kula asali kwa kuwa ni nzuri, kwa sababu matone ya sega la asali ni matamu unapoonja.
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.
Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; destroy not his resting-place:
Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
16 For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
17 Rejoice not when thy enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
18 Lest the LORD see [it], and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil [men], neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil [man]; the candle of the wicked shall be extinguished.
maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:
Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
23 These [things] also [belong] to the wise. [It is] not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
24 He that saith to the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
26 [Every man] shall kiss [his] lips that giveth a right answer.
Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
Andaa kazi yako ya nje, na tayarisha kila kitu kwa ajili yako mwenyewe shambani; baada ya hapo, jenga nyumba yako.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; and deceive [not] with thy lips.
Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
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, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Nilikwenda jirani na shamba la mtu mvivu, nikapita kwenye shamba la mzabibu 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 imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
32 Then I saw, [and] considered [it] well: I looked upon [it], [and] received instruction.
Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, kupumzika kwa kukunja mikono kidogo-
34 So shall thy poverty come [as] one that traveleth; and thy want as an armed man.
na umasikini huja kwa kutembea juu yako, na mahitaji yako kama askari mwenye silaha.
