< Thimo 31 >

1 Ĩno nĩyo mĩario ya Mũthamaki Lemueli: nĩ ndũmĩrĩri nditũ ĩrĩa aarutirwo nĩ nyina:
These are the words of King Lemuel, an oracle, taught to him by his mother.
2 “Atĩrĩrĩ, wee mũrũ wakwa, ngũkwĩra atĩa, o wee mwana wa nda yakwa, ngũkwĩra atĩa o wee mwana wa mĩĩhĩtwa yakwa,
What shall I tell you, my son?—the son I gave birth to, the son given in response to my vows.
3 atĩrĩ, ndũkanaitange hinya waku na andũ-a-nja, kana ũhe ũhoti waku acio manangaga athamaki.
Don't waste your strength sleeping with women, those that bring down kings.
4 “Atĩrĩrĩ, wee Lemueli, athamaki matiagĩrĩirwo nĩkũnyua ndibei, ti mũtugo wa athamaki kũnyua ndibei, anene matiagĩrĩirwo nĩ kwĩrirĩria njoohi,
Lemuel, kings shouldn't be drinking wine, rulers shouldn't be drinking alcohol.
5 nĩgeetha matikanyue mariganĩrwo nĩ ũrĩa watho uugaga, nao magithie arĩa othe ahinyĩrĩrie kĩhooto kĩao.
For if they drink, they'll forget what the law says, and pervert the rights of those who are suffering.
6 Heaga arĩa marathira njoohi, na ndibei kũrĩ arĩa marĩ na ruo rũnene rwa ngoro;
Give alcohol to those who are dying, and wine to those who are in terrible distress.
7 reke manyue mariganĩrwo nĩ ũthĩĩni wao, na matige gũcooka kũririkana kĩeha kĩao.
Let them drink so they can forget their poverty, and not remember their troubles any longer.
8 “Arĩrĩria arĩa matangĩhota kwĩyarĩrĩria, warĩrĩrie kĩhooto kĩa arĩa othe anyamaarĩku.
Speak up for those who have no voice, for the rights of those marginalized by society.
9 Maarĩrĩrie, na ũmatuĩre ciira na kĩhooto; rũĩrĩra kĩhooto kĩa arĩa athĩĩni na arĩa abatari.”
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the poor and destitute.
10 Mũtumia ngatha-rĩ, angĩoneka kũ? Nĩgũkorwo thogora wake nĩũkĩrĩte mũno ũrĩa wa ruru iria ndune.
Who can find a strong, capable wife? She's worth more than jewels!
11 Mũthuuri wake nĩamwĩhokete biũ, na ndarĩ kĩndũ kĩa bata angĩaga.
Her husband has complete confidence in her, and with her he'll never be poor.
12 Mũtumia ũcio, matukũ mothe ma muoyo wake, no maũndũ mega ekaga mũthuuriwe, na ndangĩmwĩka ũũru.
She brings him good, not evil, all her life.
13 Ethaga guoya wa ngʼondu na ndigi cia ũguta, agacirutĩra wĩra na kĩyo, na moko make.
She gets wool and flax, and with her eager hands turns them into clothes.
14 Ahaana ta marikabu cia wonjoria, tondũ athũgũraga irio ciake kuuma kũraya.
Like a merchant's ship, she brings food from far away.
15 Okĩraga rũciinĩ kũrĩ o na nduma; akahe andũ a nyũmba yake irio, na akagaĩra ndungata ciake cia airĩtu mawĩra mao.
She gets up while it's still dark to make breakfast for her family, and to plan what her servant girls need to do.
16 Ecũũranagia ũhoro wa mũgũnda mũna, akaũgũra; kuumana na ũthũkũmi wake, ahaandaga mũgũnda wa mĩthabibũ.
She looks at a field, and decides to buy it; from the money she's earned she buys a vineyard.
17 Ehotoragĩra wĩra wake erutanĩirie; moko make marĩ hinya wa kwĩrutĩra wĩra.
She's keen to get ready, and works hard with her strong arms.
18 Nĩatigagĩrĩra atĩ wonjoria wake nĩũrĩ na uumithio, naguo tawa wake ũraaraga ũgĩakana.
She knows that the things she makes are valuable. She keeps busy—her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Anyiitaga mũtĩ wa kuogotha ndigi na guoko, nakĩo gĩcũni kĩa ndigi agakĩnyiitĩrĩra na ciara ciake.
She spins the thread and weaves the cloth.
20 Nĩataanahagĩra andũ arĩa athĩĩni, nao arĩa abatari akamatambũrũkĩria moko make.
She's generous to the poor, and gives help to the needy.
21 Rĩrĩa tharunji yagũa-rĩ, we ndamakaga atĩ nĩĩgũthĩĩnia andũ a nyũmba yake; nĩgũkorwo othe nĩahumbe nguo cia rangi mũtune.
She doesn't worry if it snows, because her whole family has warm clothing.
22 Nĩatumaga indo cia kwara ũrĩrĩ wake; nake ehumbaga nguo cia gatani ĩrĩa njega, na cia rangi wa ndathi.
She makes herself bedspreads; she dresses in fine linen and purple clothes.
23 Mũthuuri wake nĩaheagwo gĩtĩĩo kĩhingo-inĩ gĩa itũũra inene, harĩa aikaraga marĩ na athuuri a bũrũri.
Her husband is well-respected in the council at the town gates, where he sits with the town elders.
24 Mũtumia ũcio nĩatumaga nguo cia gatani agaciendia, na agatwaragĩra onjoria mĩcibi.
She makes linen clothes for sale, and supplies merchants with belts.
25 Hinya na ũtĩĩku nĩcio nguo iria ehumbaga; nĩakenaga ategwĩtigĩra matukũ marĩa magooka.
She's clothed with strength and dignity, and she is happy about the future.
26 Aaragia ciugo cia ũũgĩ, naruo rũrĩmĩ rwake rũrutanaga maũndũ ma ũtugi.
She speaks wise words, and she's kind when she gives instructions.
27 Nĩarũmbũyagia maũndũ ma nyũmba yake, na ndarĩĩaga irio atanogeire.
She looks after the needs of her whole household, and she's never idle.
28 Ciana ciake ciarahũkaga, cikoiga arorathimwo; o nake mũthuuri wake nĩamũgaathagĩrĩria, akamwĩra atĩrĩ:
Her children are quick to bless her. Her husband praises her too, saying,
29 “Andũ-a-nja aingĩ manatuĩka ngatha, no wee nĩũmakĩrĩte othe.”
“Many women do great things, but you are better than all of them!”
30 Ngoga nĩ cia kũheenania, naguo ũthaka nĩ wa tũhũ; no mũtumia ũrĩa mwĩtigĩri Jehova nĩ wa kũgaathĩrĩrio.
Charm can deceive, and beauty fades, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.
31 Mũrĩhei mũcaara wa wĩra ũrĩa arutĩte, naguo wĩra wake ũrekwo ũmũgaathĩrĩrie kĩhingo-inĩ gĩa itũũra rĩrĩa inene.
Give her the recognition she deserves; praise her publicly for what she's done.

< Thimo 31 >