Mithali 23
1 Uketipo kula chakula na mtawala, angalia vyema kile kilicho mbele yako,
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
2 na utie kisu kooni mwako kama ukiwa mlafi.
and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
3 Usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu kwa kuwa chakula hicho ni cha hila.
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 Usijitaabishe ili kuupata utajiri, uwe na hekima kuonyesha kujizuia.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
5 Kufumba na kufumbua utajiri hutoweka, huwa kama umepata mabawa ghafula, ukaruka na kutoweka angani kama tai.
When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
6 Usile chakula cha mtu mchoyo, usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu,
Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
7 kwa maana yeye ni aina ya mtu ambaye kila mara anafikiri juu ya gharama. Anakuambia, “Kula na kunywa,” lakini moyo wake hauko pamoja nawe.
for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Utatapika kile kidogo ulichokula, nawe utakuwa umepoteza bure maneno yako ya kumsifu.
You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Usizungumze na mpumbavu, kwa maana atadhihaki hekima ya maneno yako.
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani wala kunyemelea kwenye mashamba ya yatima,
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 kwa kuwa Mtetezi wao ni mwenye nguvu, atalichukua shauri lao dhidi yako.
for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
12 Elekeza moyo wako kwenye mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Usimnyime mtoto adhabu, ukimwadhibu kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una hekima, basi moyo wangu utafurahi,
My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
16 utu wangu wa ndani utafurahi, wakati midomo yako itakapozungumza lililo sawa.
My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Usiuruhusu moyo wako kuwaonea wivu wenye dhambi, bali kila mara uwe na bidii katika kumcha Bwana.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
18 Hakika kuna tumaini la baadaye kwa ajili yako, nalo tarajio lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Sikiliza, mwanangu na uwe na hekima, weka moyo wako kwenye njia iliyo sawa.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
20 Usiwe miongoni mwa wanywao mvinyo, au wale walao nyama kwa pupa,
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
21 kwa maana walevi na walafi huwa maskini, nako kusinzia huwavika matambara.
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
22 Msikilize baba yako, aliyekuzaa, wala usimdharau mama yako atakapokuwa mzee.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Nunua kweli wala usiiuze, pata hekima, adabu na ufahamu.
Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 Baba wa mwenye haki ana furaha kubwa, naye aliye na mwana mwenye hekima humfurahia.
The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
25 Baba yako na mama yako na wafurahi, mama aliyekuzaa na ashangilie!
May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
26 Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako, macho yako na yafuate njia zangu,
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 kwa maana kahaba ni shimo refu na mwanamke mpotovu ni kisima chembamba.
For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 Kama mnyangʼanyi, hungojea akivizia, naye huzidisha wasio waaminifu miongoni mwa wanaume.
Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
29 Ni nani mwenye ole? Ni nani mwenye huzuni? Ni nani mwenye ugomvi? Ni nani mwenye malalamiko? Ni nani aliye na majeraha yasiyo na sababu? Ni nani mwenye macho mekundu?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Ni hao wakaao sana kwenye mvinyo, hao waendao kuonja mabakuli ya mvinyo uliochanganywa.
Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
31 Usiukodolee macho mvinyo wakati ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unapometameta kwenye bilauri, wakati ushukapo taratibu!
Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 Mwishowe huuma kama nyoka na kutia sumu yake kama nyoka mwenye sumu.
In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
33 Macho yako yataona mambo mageni na moyo wako kuwazia mambo yaliyopotoka.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
34 Utakuwa kama alalaye katikati ya bahari, alalaye juu ya kamba ya merikebu.
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
35 Utasema, “Wamenipiga lakini sikuumia! Wamenichapa, lakini sisikii! Nitaamka lini ili nikanywe tena?”
“They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
