Proverbs 4
1 Listen, sons, to a father’s instruction. Pay attention and know understanding;
Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
2 for I give you sound learning. Don’t forsake my law.
Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 For I was a son to my father, tender and an only child in the sight of my mother.
Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
4 He taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart retain my words. Keep my commandments, and live.
baba alinifundisha akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth.
Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
6 Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you.
usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding.
Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honor when you embrace her.
Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
9 She will give to your head a garland of grace. She will deliver a crown of splendor to you.”
Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
10 Listen, my son, and receive my sayings. The years of your life will be many.
Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom. I have led you in straight paths.
Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 When you go, your steps will not be hampered. When you run, you will not stumble.
Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
13 Take firm hold of instruction. Don’t let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.
Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
14 Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men.
Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
15 Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on.
Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
16 For they don’t sleep unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.
Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu na hunywa divai ya vurugu.
18 But the path of the righteous is like the dawning light that shines more and more until the perfect day.
Bali njia ya mwenye kutenda haki ni kama mwanga ung'aao, huangaza zaidi na zaidi hadi mchana inapowasili kwa ukamilifu.
19 The way of the wicked is like darkness. They don’t know what they stumble over.
Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
20 My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings.
Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart.
Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body.
Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.
Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
24 Put away from yourself a perverse mouth. Put corrupt lips far from you.
Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead. Fix your gaze directly before you.
Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
26 Make the path of your feet level. Let all of your ways be established.
Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
27 Don’t turn to the right hand nor to the left. Remove your foot from evil.
Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
