Mhubiri 7
1 Afadhali sifa nzuri kuliko manukato safi, nayo siku ya kufa kuliko ya kuzaliwa.
A [good] name is better than precious ointment, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
2 Afadhali kwenda kwenye nyumba ya msiba kuliko kwenda kwenye nyumba ya karamu, kwa kuwa kifo ni hatima ya kila mwanadamu, imewapasa walio hai kuliweka hili mioyoni mwao.
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: in that that is the end of all men, and the living taketh it to heart.
3 Huzuni ni afadhali kuliko kicheko, kwa sababu uso wenye huzuni wafaa kwa moyo.
Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
4 Moyo wa wenye hekima uko katika nyumba ya msiba, lakini moyo wa wapumbavu uko katika nyumba ya anasa.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools in the house of mirth.
5 Afadhali kusikia karipio la mtu mwenye hekima, kuliko kusikiliza wimbo wa wapumbavu.
It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise, than to hear the song of fools.
6 Kama ilivyo kuvunjika kwa miiba chini ya sufuria, ndivyo kilivyo kicheko cha wapumbavu. Hili nalo pia ni ubatili.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
7 Dhuluma humfanya mtu mwenye hekima kuwa mpumbavu, nayo rushwa huuharibu moyo.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
8 Mwisho wa jambo ni bora kuliko mwanzo wake, uvumilivu ni bora kuliko kiburi.
Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; better is a patient spirit than a proud spirit.
9 Usiwe mwepesi kukasirika rohoni mwako, kwa kuwa hasira hukaa kifuani mwa wapumbavu.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.
10 Usiseme, “Kwa nini siku za kale zilikuwa bora kuliko siku hizi?” Kwa maana si hekima kuuliza maswali kama hayo.
Say not, How is it that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this.
11 Hekima, kama ulivyo urithi, ni kitu chema na huwafaidia wale walionalo jua.
Wisdom is as good as an inheritance, and profitable to them that see the sun.
12 Hekima ni ulinzi kama fedha ilivyo ulinzi, lakini faida ya maarifa ni hii: kwamba hekima huhifadhi maisha ya aliye nayo.
For wisdom is a defence [as] money is a defence; but the excellency of knowledge is, [that] wisdom maketh them that possess it to live.
13 Tafakari kile Mungu alichokitenda: Nani awezaye kunyoosha kile ambacho yeye amekipinda?
Consider the work of God; for who can make straight what he hath made crooked?
14 Nyakati zikiwa nzuri, ufurahi, lakini nyakati zikiwa mbaya, tafakari: Mungu amefanya hiyo moja, naam, sanjari na hiyo nyingine. Kwa hiyo, mwanadamu hawezi kugundua kitu chochote kuhusu maisha yake ya baadaye.
In the day of prosperity enjoy good, and in the day of adversity consider: God hath also set the one beside the other, to the end that man should find out nothing [of what shall be] after him.
15 Katika maisha haya yangu ya ubatili nimeshaona haya mawili: mtu mwadilifu akiangamia katika uadilifu wake, naye mtu mwovu akiishi maisha marefu katika uovu wake.
All [this] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a righteous [man] that perisheth by his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongeth [his days] by his wickedness.
16 Usiwe mwenye haki kupita kiasi, wala usiwe na hekima kupita kiasi: kwa nini kujiangamiza mwenyewe?
Be not righteous overmuch; neither make thyself overwise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?
17 Usiwe mwovu kupita kiasi, wala usiwe mpumbavu: kwa nini kufa kabla ya wakati wako?
Be not overmuch wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?
18 Ni vyema kushika hilo moja na wala usiache hilo jingine likupite. Mtu amchaye Mungu ataepuka huko kupita kiasi.
It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this; yea, also from that withdraw not thy hand: for he that feareth God cometh forth from them all.
19 Hekima humfanya yeye aliye nayo kuwa na uwezo zaidi kuliko watawala kumi katika mji.
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty [men] that are in a city.
20 Hakuna mtu mwenye haki duniani ambaye hufanya mambo ya haki na kamwe asitende dhambi.
Surely there is not a righteous man upon earth, that doeth good and sinneth not.
21 Usitie maanani kila neno linalosemwa na watu, la sivyo, waweza kumsikia mtumishi wako akikulaani:
Also give not heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee.
22 kwa kuwa unafahamu moyoni mwako kwamba wewe mwenyewe mara nyingi umewalaani wengine.
For also thine own heart knoweth that oftentimes thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.
23 Yote haya niliyajaribu kwa hekima, nikasema, “Nimeamua kuwa na hekima”: lakini hii ilikuwa nje ya uwezo wangu.
All this have I tried by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.
24 Vyovyote hekima ilivyo, hekima iko mbali sana na imejificha, ni nani awezaye kuigundua?
Whatever hath been, is far off, and exceeding deep: who will find it out?
25 Nikageuza fikira zangu ili kuelewa, kuchunguza na kuitafuta hekima na kusudi la mambo, na ili kuelewa ujinga wa uovu, na wazimu wa upumbavu.
I turned, I and my heart, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and reason, and to know wickedness to be folly, and foolishness to be madness;
26 Nimeona jambo lililo chungu kuliko mauti, mwanamke ambaye ni mtego, ambaye moyo wake ni wavu wa kutegea na mikono yake ni minyororo. Mtu ampendezaye Mungu atamkwepa, bali mwenye dhambi atanaswa naye.
and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is nets and snares, [and] whose hands are bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be caught by her.
27 Mhubiri anasema, “Tazama, hili ndilo nililogundua: “Nimegundua kitu kimoja baada ya kingine nilipokuwa katika kusudi la mambo:
See this which I have found, saith the Preacher, [searching] one by one to find out the reason;
28 ningali natafiti lakini sipati: nilimpata mwanaume mmoja mnyofu miongoni mwa elfu, lakini hakuna mwanamke mmoja mnyofu miongoni mwao.
which my soul yet seeketh, and I have not found: one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found.
29 Hili ndilo peke yake nililolipata: Mungu amemuumba mwanadamu mnyofu, lakini mwanadamu amebuni mambo mengi.”
Only see this which I have found: that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.
