Mhubiri 11
1 Tupa mkate wako juu ya maji, kwa maana baada ya siku nyingi utaupata tena.
Cast your bread over running waters. For, after a long time, you shall find it again.
2 Wape sehemu watu saba, naam hata wanane, kwa maana hujui ni baa gani litakalokuwa juu ya nchi.
Give a portion to seven, and indeed even to eight. For you do not know what evil may be upon the earth in the future.
3 Kama mawingu yamejaa maji, hunyesha mvua juu ya nchi. Kama mti ukianguka kuelekea kusini au kuelekea kaskazini, mahali ulipoangukia, hapo ndipo utakapolala.
If the clouds have been filled, they will pour forth rain upon the earth. If a tree falls to the south, or to the north, or to whatever direction it may fall, there it shall remain.
4 Yeyote atazamaye upepo hatapanda, yeyote aangaliaye mawingu hatavuna.
Whoever heeds the wind will not sow. And whoever considers the clouds will never reap.
5 Kama vile usivyofahamu njia ya upepo, au jinsi mwili uumbwavyo ndani ya tumbo la mama, vivyo hivyo huwezi kufahamu kazi ya Mungu, Muumba wa vitu vyote.
In the same manner that you do not know the way of the spirit, nor the way that bones are joined together in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you do not know the works of God, who is the Maker of all.
6 Panda mbegu yako asubuhi, nako jioni usiruhusu mikono yako ilegee, kwa maana hujui ni ipi itakayofanikiwa, kwamba ni hii au ni ile, au kwamba zote zitafanikiwa sawasawa.
In the morning, sow your seed, and in the evening, do not let your hand cease. For you do not know which of these may rise up, the one or the other. But if both rise up together, so much the better.
7 Nuru ni tamu, tena inafurahisha macho kuona jua.
Light is pleasant, and it is delightful for the eyes to see the sun.
8 Hata kama mtu ataishi miaka mingi kiasi gani, na aifurahie yote. Lakini na akumbuke siku za giza, kwa maana zitakuwa nyingi. Kila kitu kitakachokuja ni ubatili.
If a man lives for many years, and if he has rejoiced in all of these, he must remember the many days of the dark times, which, when they will have arrived, will accuse the past of vanity.
9 Furahi ewe kijana, wakati ungali kijana, moyo wako na ukupe furaha katika siku za ujana wako. Fuata njia za moyo wako na chochote macho yako yaonayo, lakini ujue kwamba kwa ajili ya haya yote Mungu atakuleta hukumuni.
So then, rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart remain in what is good during the days of your youth. And walk in the ways of your heart, and with the perception of your eyes. And know that, concerning all these things, God will bring you to judgment.
10 Kwa hiyo basi, ondoa wasiwasi moyoni mwako na utupilie mbali masumbufu ya mwili wako, kwa kuwa ujana na nguvu ni ubatili.
Remove anger from your heart, and set aside evil from your flesh. For youth and pleasure are empty.
