Mithali 24
1 Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
Do not be envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 kwa maana mioyo yao hupanga mambo ya jeuri, nayo midomo yao husema juu ya kuleta madhara.
for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;
4 kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.
5 Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
7 Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
Wisdom is too high for a fool. He does not open his mouth in the gate.
8 Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
12 Kama mkisema, “Lakini hatukujua lolote kuhusu hili,” je, yule apimaye mioyo halitambui hili? Je, yule awalindaye maisha yenu halijui hili? Je, hatamlipa kila mtu kulingana na aliyotenda?
If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does not he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
13 Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
My son, eat honey, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
14 Ujue pia kwamba hekima ni tamu kwa nafsi yako, kama ukiipata, kuna matumaini kwako ya siku zijazo, nalo tumaini lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
15 Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
Do not lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Do not destroy his resting place;
16 Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.
for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.
Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
18 Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.
lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
Do not fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20 kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Do not join those who are rebellious,
22 kwa maana hao wawili watatuma maangamizi ya ghafula juu yao, naye ni nani ajuaye maafa wawezayo kuleta?
for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
23 Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 Yeyote amwambiaye mwenye hatia, “Wewe huna hatia,” Kabila zitamlaani na mataifa yatamkana.
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Do not deceive with your lips.
29 Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 Nilipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, karibu na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili,
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
31 miiba ilikuwa imeota kila mahali, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa na magugu, na ukuta wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:
33 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,
34 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
