Mhubiri 5
1 Linda hatua zako uendapo katika nyumba ya Mungu. Karibia usikilize kuliko kutoa dhabihu ya wapumbavu, ambao hawajui kuwa wanafanya kosa.
Keep your foot when you go to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil.
2 Usiwe mwepesi kuzungumza, usiwe na haraka katika moyo wako kuzungumza lolote mbele za Mungu. Mungu yuko mbinguni nawe uko duniani, kwa hiyo maneno yako na yawe machache.
Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and you upon earth: therefore let your words be few.
3 Kama vile ndoto huja wakati kuna shughuli nyingi, ndivyo yalivyo mazungumzo ya mpumbavu wakati kuna maneno mengi.
For a dream comes through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.
4 Wakati unapomwekea Mungu nadhiri, usikawie kuitimiza. Yeye hafurahii wapumbavu; timiza nadhiri yako.
When you vow a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools: pay that which you have vowed.
5 Ni afadhali usiweke nadhiri kuliko kuiweka na usiitimize.
Better is it that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not pay.
6 Usiruhusu kinywa chako kukuingiza dhambini. Tena usijitetee mbele ya huyo mjumbe wa hekaluni, ukisema, “Niliweka nadhiri kwa makosa.” Kwa nini Mungu akasirike kwa ajili ya yale unayosema na kuiharibu kazi ya mikono yako?
Suffer not your mouth to cause your flesh to sin; neither say you before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?
7 Kuota ndoto kwingi na maneno mengi ni ubatili. Kwa hiyo simama katika kicho cha Mungu.
For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear you God.
8 Kama ukiona maskini wanaonewa katika nchi, hukumu na haki vikipotoshwa, usishangazwe na mambo hayo, kwa maana afisa mmoja anaangaliwa na aliye juu yake zaidi na juu ya hao wawili kuna wengine walio juu zaidi yao.
If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regards; and there be higher than they.
9 Mafanikio ya nchi ni kwa ajili ya wote, hata mfalme mwenyewe hufaidi kutoka mashambani.
Moreover the profit of the earth is for all: the king himself is served by the field.
10 Yeyote apendaye fedha kamwe hatosheki na fedha; yeyote apendaye utajiri kamwe hatosheki na kipato chake. Hili nalo pia ni ubatili.
He that loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loves abundance with increase: this is also vanity.
11 Mali ikiongezeka, ndivyo walaji wanavyoongezeka. Hii nayo inamfaidia nini mwenye mali isipokuwa ni kushibisha macho yake?
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
12 Usingizi wa kibarua ni mtamu, awe amekula kidogo au kingi, lakini wingi wa mali humnyima tajiri usingizi.
The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
13 Nimeshaona uovu mzito chini ya jua: Utajiri uliolimbikizwa kwa kujinyima na kuleta madhara kwa mwenye mali,
There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt.
14 au utajiri uliopotea kwa bahati mbaya, hivyo kwamba wakati akiwa na mwana hakuna chochote kilichobaki kwa ajili yake.
But those riches perish by evil travail: and he bring forths a son, and there is nothing in his hand.
15 Mtu hutoka tumboni mwa mama yake uchi, naye jinsi alivyokuja vivyo hivyo huondoka. Hachukui chochote kutokana na kazi yake ambacho anaweza kukibeba mkononi mwake.
As he came out of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.
16 Hili nalo ni baya la kusikitisha: Kama vile mtu ajavyo, vivyo hivyo huondoka, naye anapata faida gani, maadamu hutaabika kwa ajili ya upepo?
And this also is a sore evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go: and what profit has he that has laboured for the wind?
17 Siku zake zote hula gizani, pamoja na fadhaa kubwa, mateso na hasira.
All his days also he eats in darkness, and he has much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
18 Ndipo nikatambua kwamba ni vyema na sahihi kwa mtu kula na kunywa na kutosheka katika kazi yake ngumu chini ya jua katika siku chache za maisha yake Mungu alizompa, kwa maana hili ndilo fungu lake.
Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him: for it is his portion.
19 Zaidi ya yote, Mungu anapompa mtu yeyote utajiri na milki, humwezesha kuvifurahia, kukubali fungu lake na kuwa na furaha katika kazi yake, hii ni karama ya Mungu.
Every man also to whom God has given riches and wealth, and has given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.
20 Mara chache mtu huzifikiri siku za maisha yake, kwa sababu Mungu humfanya ashikwe na furaha ya moyoni.
For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answers him in the joy of his heart.
