Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,
2 Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,
3 kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,
4 huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.
5 wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,
6 kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.
7 Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.
9 Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.
10 Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.
11 Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;
If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:
We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit: (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:
14 Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:
15 Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.
16 kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood.
17 Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:
18 Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.
19 Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.
20 Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.
21 kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,
22 “Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge?
23 Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
(Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)
24 Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
Because I haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde.
25 kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.
26 mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.
27 wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction and anguish shall come vpon you,
28 “Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me,
29 Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
Because they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord.
30 kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.
31 watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.
32 Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.
33 Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.
