Mithali 24
1 Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
Seek not to be like 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.
Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
4 kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
5 Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
6 kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
7 Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
8 Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
9 Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
10 Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
11 Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
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 say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, and he shall render to a man according to his works.
13 Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
14 Ujue pia kwamba hekima ni tamu kwa nafsi yako, kama ukiipata, kuna matumaini kwako ya siku zijazo, nalo tumaini lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
15 Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16 Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.
For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
17 Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.
When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
18 Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.
Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
20 kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,
My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
22 kwa maana hao wawili watatuma maangamizi ya ghafula juu yao, naye ni nani ajuaye maafa wawezayo kuleta?
For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
23 Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
24 Yeyote amwambiaye mwenye hatia, “Wewe huna hatia,” Kabila zitamlaani na mataifa yatamkana.
They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
25 Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.
26 Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
27 Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
28 Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
29 Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”
Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.
30 Nilipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, karibu na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili,
I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
31 miiba ilikuwa imeota kila mahali, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa na magugu, na ukuta wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
33 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
34 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.
