Proverbs 4
1 Hear, ye sons, the instruction of a father, And give attention to know understanding.
Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.
2 For good learning I have given to you, My law forsake not.
Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 For, a son I have been to my father — tender, And an only one before my mother.
Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
4 And he directeth me, and he saith to me: 'Let thy heart retain my words, Keep my commands, and live.
baba alinifundisha akisema, “Yashike maneno yangu yote kwa moyo wako wote; yashike maagizo yangu na wewe utaishi.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding, Do not forget, nor turn away From the sayings of my mouth.
Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.
6 Forsake her not, and she doth preserve thee, Love her, and she doth keep thee.
Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.
7 The first thing [is] wisdom — 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 doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.
Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.
9 She giveth to thy head a wreath of grace, A crown of beauty she doth give thee freely.
Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”
10 Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, And years of life [are] multiplied to thee.
Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.
11 In a way of wisdom I have directed thee, I have caused thee to tread in paths of uprightness.
Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 In thy walking thy step is not straitened, And if thou runnest, thou stumblest not.
Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.
13 Lay hold on instruction, do not desist, Keep her, for she [is] thy life.
Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.
14 Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.
Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.
15 Avoid it, pass not over into it, Turn aside from it, and pass on.
Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.
16 For they sleep not if they do not evil, And their sleep hath been taken violently away, If they cause not [some] to stumble.
Kwa kuwa hawawezi kulala mpaka watende uovu; wanashindwa hata kusinzia mpaka wamwangushe mtu.
17 For they have eaten bread of wickedness, And wine of violence they drink.
Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.
18 And the path of the righteous [is] as a shining light, Going and brightening till the day is established,
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 have not known at what they stumble.
Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.
20 My son, to my words give attention, To my sayings incline thine ear,
Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.
21 Let them not turn aside from thine eyes, Preserve them in the midst of thy heart.
Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;
22 For life they [are] to those finding them, And to all their flesh healing.
kwa sababu ni uzima kwa wale wanaoyapata na afya kwa mwili wote wa mwanadamu.
23 Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life.
Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.
24 Turn aside 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 Thine eyes do look straightforward, And thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.
26 Ponder thou the path of thy feet, And all thy ways [are] established.
Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.
27 Incline not [to] the right or to the left, Turn aside thy foot from evil!
Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.
