Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
2 Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
3 kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
5 wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
6 kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
9 Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
10 Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
11 Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;
If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,
let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
14 Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
15 Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
16 kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
17 Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
18 Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
19 Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
20 Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21 kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
22 “Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
23 Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.
24 Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
25 kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
26 mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
27 wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
28 “Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
29 Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
31 watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
