Mithali 24
1 Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
Be not thou 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 heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
Through wisdom is a house built, and by understanding it is established;
4 kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
and by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant substance.
5 Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
For with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.
8 Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.
9 Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
The purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
[If] thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.
11 Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to 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 thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.
13 Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
Eat honey, my son, for it is good; and a honeycomb is sweet to thy 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 consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.
16 Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.
For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.
17 Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
18 Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.
lest Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.
19 Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, [and] be not envious of the wicked:
20 kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
for there shall be no future to the evil [man]; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,
My son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle not with them that are given to change.
22 kwa maana hao wawili watatuma maangamizi ya ghafula juu yao, naye ni nani ajuaye maafa wawezayo kuleta?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
These things also come from the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 Yeyote amwambiaye mwenye hatia, “Wewe huna hatia,” Kabila zitamlaani na mataifa yatamkana.
He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him;
25 Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
but to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing cometh upon them.
26 Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.
27 Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.
28 Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?
29 Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me, I will render to 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 a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;
31 miiba ilikuwa imeota kila mahali, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa na magugu, na ukuta wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
and lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I 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 rest!
34 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
So shall thy poverty come [as] a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.
