Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 For I was my father's son, tender and only [beloved] in the sight of my mother.
Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
4 He taught me also, and said to me, Let thy heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
baba alinifundisha akisema, “Yashike maneno yangu yote kwa moyo wako wote; yashike maagizo yangu na wewe utaishi.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget [it] not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.
7 Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
Hekima ni bora kuliko vitu vyote; kwa hiyo jipe hekima. Hata ikikugharimu vyote ulivyo navyo, pata ufahamu.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
9 She shall give to thy head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let [her] not go: keep her; for she [is] thy life.
Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil [men].
Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [some] to fall.
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 the just [is] as the shining light, that shineth more and more to the perfect day.
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] as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thy ear to my sayings.
Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.
21 Let them not depart from thy eyes; keep them in the midst of thy heart.
Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;
22 For they [are] life to those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
kwa sababu ni uzima kwa wale wanaoyapata na afya kwa mwili wote wa mwanadamu.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life.
Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.
25 Let thy eyes look right on, and let thy eyelids look straight before thee.
Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.
