Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2 Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
That one may learn wisdom and instruction, And receive words of understanding;
3 kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
That one may gain the instruction of prudence, Justice, equity, and uprightness;
4 huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
Which will give caution to the simple, To the young man wisdom and discretion;
5 wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
Let the wise man hear, and he will increase his knowledge, And the man of understanding will gain wise counsels;
6 kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
So as to understand a proverb and a deep maxim, The words of the wise and their dark sayings.
7 Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
Hear, O my son! the instruction of thy father, And neglect not the teaching of thy mother!
9 Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
For they shall be a graceful wreath for thy head, And a chain around thy neck.
10 Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
My son, if sinners entice 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 us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us lurk secretly for him who is innocent in vain;
Let us swallow them up alive, like the underworld, Yea, in full health, as those that go down into the pit; (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
We shall find all kinds of precious substance, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse;”—
15 Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
My son, walk thou not in their way, Refrain thy foot from their path!
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!
For as the net is spread in vain Before the eyes of any bird,
18 Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
So they lie in wait for their own blood; They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
Such are the ways of every one greedy of unjust gain; It taketh away the life of the possessor thereof.
20 Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
Wisdom crieth out in the highway; In the market-place she uttereth her voice;
21 kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
At the head of the noisy streets she crieth aloud; At the entrances of the gates, throughout the city, she proclaimeth her words [[saying]]:
22 “Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? How long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools 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 pour out my spirit to you; I will make known my words to you!
24 Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
“Because I have called, and ye have refused, —Because I have stretched out my hand, and no one hath regarded.
25 kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
Because ye have rejected all my counsel, And have slighted my rebuke, —
26 mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
When your fear cometh upon you like a storm. And destruction overtaketh you like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer! They will seek me early, But they shall not find me!
29 Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
Because they have hated knowledge, And have not chosen the fear of the LORD, —
30 kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
Because they would not attend to my counsel, And have despised all my reproof, —
31 watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own devices;
32 Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
Yea, the turning away of the simple shall slay them, And the carelessness of fools shall destroy them.
33 Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
But whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell securely, And shall not be disquieted with the fear of evil.”
