Proverbs 24
1 Don’t be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
2 for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
kwa maana mioyo yao hupanga mambo ya jeuri, nayo midomo yao husema juu ya kuleta madhara.
3 Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
5 A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
6 for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
8 One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
9 The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
10 If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
11 Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
12 If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
Kama mkisema, “Lakini hatukujua lolote kuhusu hili,” je, yule apimaye mioyo halitambui hili? Je, yule awalindaye maisha yenu halijui hili? Je, hatamlipa kila mtu kulingana na aliyotenda?
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
14 so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
Ujue pia kwamba hekima ni tamu kwa nafsi yako, kama ukiipata, kuna matumaini kwako ya siku zijazo, nalo tumaini lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
15 Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
16 for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.
17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.
18 lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.
19 Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
20 for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
21 My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,
22 for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
kwa maana hao wawili watatuma maangamizi ya ghafula juu yao, naye ni nani ajuaye maafa wawezayo kuleta?
23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgement is not good.
Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
24 He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
Yeyote amwambiaye mwenye hatia, “Wewe huna hatia,” Kabila zitamlaani na mataifa yatamkana.
25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
27 Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbour without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
29 Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”
30 I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
Nilipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, karibu na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili,
31 Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
miiba ilikuwa imeota kila mahali, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa na magugu, na ukuta wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
32 Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
33 a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
34 so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
