Mithali 23
1 Uketipo kula chakula na mtawala, angalia vyema kile kilicho mbele yako,
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 na utie kisu kooni mwako kama ukiwa mlafi.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu kwa kuwa chakula hicho ni cha hila.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Usijitaabishe ili kuupata utajiri, uwe na hekima kuonyesha kujizuia.
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 Kufumba na kufumbua utajiri hutoweka, huwa kama umepata mabawa ghafula, ukaruka na kutoweka angani kama tai.
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 Usile chakula cha mtu mchoyo, usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu,
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
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 what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 Utatapika kile kidogo ulichokula, nawe utakuwa umepoteza bure maneno yako ya kumsifu.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 Usizungumze na mpumbavu, kwa maana atadhihaki hekima ya maneno yako.
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani wala kunyemelea kwenye mashamba ya yatima,
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 kwa kuwa Mtetezi wao ni mwenye nguvu, atalichukua shauri lao dhidi yako.
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 Elekeza moyo wako kwenye mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Usimnyime mtoto adhabu, ukimwadhibu kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una hekima, basi moyo wangu utafurahi,
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 utu wangu wa ndani utafurahi, wakati midomo yako itakapozungumza lililo sawa.
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 Usiuruhusu moyo wako kuwaonea wivu wenye dhambi, bali kila mara uwe na bidii katika kumcha Bwana.
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 Hakika kuna tumaini la baadaye kwa ajili yako, nalo tarajio lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 Sikiliza, mwanangu na uwe na hekima, weka moyo wako kwenye njia iliyo sawa.
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Usiwe miongoni mwa wanywao mvinyo, au wale walao nyama kwa pupa,
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 kwa maana walevi na walafi huwa maskini, nako kusinzia huwavika matambara.
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 Msikilize baba yako, aliyekuzaa, wala usimdharau mama yako atakapokuwa mzee.
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 Nunua kweli wala usiiuze, pata hekima, adabu na ufahamu.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Baba wa mwenye haki ana furaha kubwa, naye aliye na mwana mwenye hekima humfurahia.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 Baba yako na mama yako na wafurahi, mama aliyekuzaa na ashangilie!
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako, macho yako na yafuate njia zangu,
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 kwa maana kahaba ni shimo refu na mwanamke mpotovu ni kisima chembamba.
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 Kama mnyangʼanyi, hungojea akivizia, naye huzidisha wasio waaminifu miongoni mwa wanaume.
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
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's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 Ni hao wakaao sana kwenye mvinyo, hao waendao kuonja mabakuli ya mvinyo uliochanganywa.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Usiukodolee macho mvinyo wakati ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unapometameta kwenye bilauri, wakati ushukapo taratibu!
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 Mwishowe huuma kama nyoka na kutia sumu yake kama nyoka mwenye sumu.
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 Macho yako yataona mambo mageni na moyo wako kuwazia mambo yaliyopotoka.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 Utakuwa kama alalaye katikati ya bahari, alalaye juu ya kamba ya merikebu.
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 Utasema, “Wamenipiga lakini sikuumia! Wamenichapa, lakini sisikii! Nitaamka lini ili nikanywe tena?”
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”
