Proverbs 3
1 My son, don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,
Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,
2 for they will add to you length of days, years of life, and peace.
kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.
3 Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Usiache kamwe upendo na uaminifu vitengane nawe; vifunge shingoni mwako, viandike katika ubao wa moyo wako.
4 So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.
5 Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.
Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil.
Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.
8 It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones.
Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.
9 Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase;
Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;
10 so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine.
ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.
11 My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline, neither be weary of his correction;
Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,
12 for whom Yahweh loves, he corrects, even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.
kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.
13 Happy is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gets understanding.
Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,
14 For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.
kwa maana hekima ana faida kuliko fedha na mapato yake ni bora kuliko ya dhahabu safi.
15 She is more precious than rubies. None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her.
Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.
16 Length of days is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor.
Maisha marefu yako katika mkono wake wa kuume; katika mkono wake wa kushoto kuna utajiri na heshima.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness. All her paths are peace.
Njia zake zinapendeza, mapito yake yote ni amani.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Happy is everyone who retains her.
Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomkumbatia; wale wamshikao watabarikiwa.
19 By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens.
Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;
20 By his knowledge, the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.
21 My son, let them not depart from your eyes. Keep sound wisdom and discretion,
Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;
22 so they will be life to your soul, and grace for your neck.
ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.
23 Then you shall walk in your way securely. Your foot won’t stumble.
Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid. Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
25 Don’t be afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes;
Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,
26 for Yahweh will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being taken.
kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.
27 Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.
28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again; tomorrow I will give it to you,” when you have it by you.
Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
29 Don’t devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells securely by you.
Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.
30 Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.
Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.
31 Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.
Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,
32 For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh, but his friendship is with the upright.
kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.
33 Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.
Laana ya Bwana i juu ya nyumba ya mwovu, lakini yeye huibariki nyumba ya mwenye haki.
34 Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.
35 The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.
Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.
