Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
For knowing wisdom and instruction, For understanding sayings of intelligence,
3 kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
For receiving the instruction of wisdom, Righteousness, judgment, and uprightness,
4 huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
For giving to simple ones — prudence, To a youth — knowledge and discretion.
5 wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
(The wise doth hear and increaseth learning, And the intelligent doth obtain counsels.)
6 kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.
7 Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
Fear of Jehovah [is] a beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and instruction fools have despised!
8 Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother,
9 Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
For a graceful wreath [are] they to thy head, And chains to thy neck.
10 Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
My son, if sinners entice thee be not willing.
11 Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;
If they say, 'Come with us, we lay wait for blood, We watch secretly for the innocent without cause,
We swallow them as Sheol — alive, And whole — as those going down [to] the pit, (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
Every precious substance we find, We fill our houses [with] spoil,
14 Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
Thy lot thou dost cast among us, One purse is — to all of us.'
15 Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
My son! go not in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path,
16 kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
For their feet to evil do run, And they haste to shed blood.
17 Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
Surely in vain is the net spread out before the eyes of any bird.
18 Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
And they for their own blood lay wait, They watch secretly for their own lives.
19 Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
So [are] the paths of every gainer of dishonest gain, The life of its owners it taketh.
20 Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
Wisdom in an out-place crieth aloud, In broad places she giveth forth 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 multitudes she calleth, In the openings of the gates, In the city her sayings she saith:
22 “Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
'Till when, ye simple, do ye love simplicity? And have scorners their scorning desired? And do fools hate knowledge?
23 Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
Turn back at my reproof, lo, I pour forth to you my spirit, I make known my words with you.
24 Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
Because I have called, and ye refuse, I stretched out my hand, and none is attending,
25 kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
And ye slight all my counsel, And my reproof ye have not desired.
26 mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
I also in your calamity do laugh, I deride 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 as destruction, And your calamity as a hurricane doth come, When on you come adversity and distress.
28 “Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
Then they call me, and I do not answer, They seek me earnestly, and find me not.
29 Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
Because that they have hated knowledge, And the fear of Jehovah have not chosen.
30 kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
They have not consented to my counsel, They have despised all my reproof,
31 watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
And they eat of the fruit of their way, And from their own counsels they are filled.
32 Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
For the turning of the simple slayeth them, And the security of the foolish destroyeth them.
33 Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
And whoso is hearkening to me dwelleth confidently, And [is] quiet from fear of evil!'
