Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
The parables of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel.
2 Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
To know wisdom, and instruction:
3 kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
To understand the words of prudence: and to receive the instruction of doctrine, justice, and judgment, and equity:
4 huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and understanding.
5 wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth, shall possess governments.
6 kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
He shall understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.
7 Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck.
10 Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them.
11 Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;
If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares for the innocent without cause:
Let us swallow him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoils.
14 Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse.
15 Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.
16 kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
17 Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings.
18 Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls.
19 Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
So the wage of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors.
20 Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21 kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying:
22 “Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate knowledge?
23 Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words.
24 Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded.
25 kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.
26 mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared.
27 wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon you:
28 “Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning and shall not find me:
29 Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
Because they have hated instruction and received not the fear of the Lord,
30 kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.
31 watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be filled with their own devices.
32 Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
But he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance, without fear of evils.
