Mithali 23
1 Uketipo kula chakula na mtawala, angalia vyema kile kilicho mbele yako,
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 na utie kisu kooni mwako kama ukiwa mlafi.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu kwa kuwa chakula hicho ni cha hila.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Usijitaabishe ili kuupata utajiri, uwe na hekima kuonyesha kujizuia.
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Kufumba na kufumbua utajiri hutoweka, huwa kama umepata mabawa ghafula, ukaruka na kutoweka angani kama tai.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Usile chakula cha mtu mchoyo, usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu,
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t 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 as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “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 the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Usizungumze na mpumbavu, kwa maana atadhihaki hekima ya maneno yako.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani wala kunyemelea kwenye mashamba ya yatima,
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 kwa kuwa Mtetezi wao ni mwenye nguvu, atalichukua shauri lao dhidi yako.
for their Defender is strong. He will plead 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 the words of knowledge.
13 Usimnyime mtoto adhabu, ukimwadhibu kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una hekima, basi moyo wangu utafurahi,
My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16 utu wangu wa ndani utafurahi, wakati midomo yako itakapozungumza lililo sawa.
Yes, my heart 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.
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long.
18 Hakika kuna tumaini la baadaye kwa ajili yako, nalo tarajio lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, 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 keep your heart on the right path!
20 Usiwe miongoni mwa wanywao mvinyo, au wale walao nyama kwa pupa,
Don’t be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 kwa maana walevi na walafi huwa maskini, nako kusinzia huwavika matambara.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Msikilize baba yako, aliyekuzaa, wala usimdharau mama yako atakapokuwa mzee.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Nunua kweli wala usiiuze, pata hekima, adabu na ufahamu.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Baba wa mwenye haki ana furaha kubwa, naye aliye na mwana mwenye hekima humfurahia.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Baba yako na mama yako na wafurahi, mama aliyekuzaa na ashangilie!
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako, macho yako na yafuate njia zangu,
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 kwa maana kahaba ni shimo refu na mwanamke mpotovu ni kisima chembamba.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Kama mnyangʼanyi, hungojea akivizia, naye huzidisha wasio waaminifu miongoni mwa wanaume.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful 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 strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Ni hao wakaao sana kwenye mvinyo, hao waendao kuonja mabakuli ya mvinyo uliochanganywa.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Usiukodolee macho mvinyo wakati ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unapometameta kwenye bilauri, wakati ushukapo taratibu!
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it 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 poisons 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 imagine confusing things.
34 Utakuwa kama alalaye katikati ya bahari, alalaye juu ya kamba ya merikebu.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 Utasema, “Wamenipiga lakini sikuumia! Wamenichapa, lakini sisikii! Nitaamka lini ili nikanywe tena?”
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
