Mithali 24
1 Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
Be not thou enuious against euill 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 imagineth destruction, and their lippes speake mischiefe.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
Through wisdome is an house builded, and with vnderstanding it is established.
4 kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
And by knowledge shall the chambers bee filled with all precious, and pleasant riches.
5 Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
A wise man is strong: for a man of vnderstanding encreaseth his strength.
6 kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
For with counsel thou shalt enterprise thy warre, and in the multitude of them that can giue counsell, is health.
7 Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
Wisdome is hie to a foole: therefore he can not open his mouth in the gate.
8 Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
Hee that imagineth to doe euill, men shall call him an autour of wickednes.
9 Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
The wicked thought of a foole is sinne, and the scorner is an abomination vnto men.
10 Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
If thou bee faint in the day of aduersitie, thy strength is small.
11 Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
Deliuer them that are drawen to death: wilt thou not preserue them that are led to be slaine?
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, Beholde, we knew not of it: he that pondereth the heartes, doeth not hee vnderstand it? and hee that keepeth thy soule, knoweth he it not? will not he also recompense euery man according to his workes?
13 Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
My sonne, eate hony, for it is good, and the hony combe, for it is sweete vnto thy mouth.
14 Ujue pia kwamba hekima ni tamu kwa nafsi yako, kama ukiipata, kuna matumaini kwako ya siku zijazo, nalo tumaini lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
So shall the knowledge of wisdome be vnto thy soule, if thou finde it, and there shall be an ende, and thine hope shall not be cut off.
15 Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
Laye no waite, O wicked man, against the house of the righteous, and spoyle not his resting place.
16 Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.
For a iust man falleth seuen times, and riseth againe: but the wicked fall into mischiefe.
17 Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.
Bee thou not glad when thine enemie falleth, and let not thine heart reioyce when hee stumbleth,
18 Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.
Least the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turne his wrath from him.
19 Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
Fret not thy selfe because of the malicious, neither be enuious at the wicked.
20 kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
For there shall bee none ende of plagues to the euill man: the light of the wicked shall bee put out.
21 Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,
My sonne feare the Lord, and the King, and meddle not with them that are sedicious.
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 ruine of them both?
23 Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
ALSO THESE THINGS PERTEINE TO THE WISE, It is not good to haue respect of any person in iudgement.
24 Yeyote amwambiaye mwenye hatia, “Wewe huna hatia,” Kabila zitamlaani na mataifa yatamkana.
He that saith to the wicked, Thou art righteous, him shall the people curse, and the multitude shall abhorre 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 pleasure, and vpon them shall come the blessing of goodnesse.
26 Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
They shall kisse the lippes of him that answereth vpright wordes.
27 Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare thy worke without, and make readie thy thinges in the fielde, and after, builde thine house.
28 Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
Be not a witnes against thy neighbour without cause: for wilt thou deceiue with thy lippes?
29 Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”
Say not, I wil doe to him, as he hath done to mee, I will recompence euery man according to his worke.
30 Nilipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, karibu na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili,
I passed by the fielde of the slouthfull, and by the vineyarde of the man destitute of vnderstanding.
31 miiba ilikuwa imeota kila mahali, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa na magugu, na ukuta wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
And lo, it was al growen ouer with thornes, and nettles had couered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken downe.
32 Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
Then I behelde, and I considered it well: I looked vpon it, and receiued instruction.
33 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
Yet a litle sleepe, a litle slumber, a litle folding of the handes to sleepe.
34 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
So thy pouertie commeth as one that traueileth by the way, and thy necessitie like an armed man.
