Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
Unapoketi kula pamoja na mtawala, angalia kwa uangalifu kilichopo mbele yako,
2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
na kama ni mtu unayependa kula chakula sana weka kisu kooni.
3 Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
Usitamani vinono vyake maana ni chakula cha uongo.
4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Usifanye kazi sana ili kupata mali; uwe na busara ya kutosha ili ujue wakati wa kuacha.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Je utaruhusu macho yako yaangaze juu yake? Itaondoka, maana itawaa mabawa kama tai na kuruka angani.
6 Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
Usile chakula cha yule mwenye jicho baya- na usiwe na shauku ya vinono vyake,
7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
maana ni mtu mwenye kuhesabu gharama ya chakula. “Kula na kunywa!” anakuambia, lakini moyo wake haupo pamoja nawe.
8 You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Utatapika kiasi kidogo ulichokula na utakuwa umepoteza sifa zako njema.
9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Usiongee katika usikivu wa mpumbavu, maana atadharau hekima ya maneno yako.
10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Usihamishe jiwe la mpaka wa kale au kunyang'anya mashamba ya yatima,
11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
maana Mkombozi wao ni imara na atatetea kesi yao dhidi yako.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
Elekeza moyo wako katika mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
13 Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Usizuie kuadilisha mtoto, maana ukimchapa kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Ni wewe unayepaswa kumchapa kwa fimbo na kuikoa nafsi yake kuzimu. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una busara, basi moyo wangu utafurahi pia;
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
sehemu zangu ndani kabisa zitafurahi sana midomo yako inaponena haki.
17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
Usiruhusu moyo wako kuwahusudu wenye dhambi, lakini endelea kumcha Yehova siku zote.
18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
Hakika tumaini lako halitaondolewa na siku zako za hapo baadaye.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
Sikia- wewe! - mwanangu, na uwe mwenye busara na uelekeze moyo wako katika njia.
20 Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
Usishirikiane pamoja na walevi, au pamoja na walaji wa nyama walafi,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
maana mlevi na mlafi wanakuwa masikini na usingizi utawavika kwa matambara.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
Msikilize baba yako ambaye alikuzaa na usimdharau mama yako wakati akiwa mzee.
23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Inunue kweli, lakini usiiuze; nunua hekima, nidhamu, na ufahamu.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Baba yake mwenye haki atafurahia sana, na yule amzaaye mtoto mwenye busara atamfurahia.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
Mfurahishe baba yako na mama yako na yule aliyekuzaa afurahie.
26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako na macho yako yachunguze njia zangu.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
Maana malaya ni shimo refu, na mke wa mume mwingine ni kisima chembamba.
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men.
Anavizia kama mnyang'anyi na huongeza idadi ya wadanganyifu miongoni mwa wanadamu.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Nani mwenye taabu? Nani mwenye huzuni? Nani mwenye mapigano? Nani mwenye malalamiko? Nani mwenye majeraha bila sababu? Nani mwenye macho mekundu?
30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
Ni wale ambao huzengea kwenye mvinyo, wale wanaojaribu kuchanganya mvinyo.
31 Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
Usiutazame mvinyo ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unametameta kwenye kikombe na kutelemka kwa uraini.
32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
Mwisho wake unauma kama nyoka na sumu yake kama kifutu.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
Macho yako yataona vitu vigeni na moyo wako utatamka vitu vya ukaidi.
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
Utakuwa kama anayelala kwenye bahari au anayelala juu ya mlingoti. “
35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
Wamenipiga,” utasema, “lakini sikuumia. Wamenichapa, lakini sikuwa na hisia. Nitaamka lini? Nitatafuta kinywaji kingine.”
