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 builded; 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 riches.
5 Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
For with wise advice thou shalt 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 as unattainable to a fool as corals; he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
9 Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
The thought of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small indeed.
11 Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
Deliver them that are drawn unto death; and those that are ready to be slain wilt thou forbear to rescue?
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 not this', doth not He that weigheth the hearts consider it? And He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? And shall not He render to every man according to his works?
13 Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
My son, eat thou honey, for it is good, and the 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 know thou wisdom to be unto thy soul; if thou hast found it, then shall there be a future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
15 Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
Lie not in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not 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 falleth seven times, and riseth up again, but the wicked stumble under adversity.
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 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,
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20 kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
For there will 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 thou the LORD and the king, and 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 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 have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
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 execrate him;
25 Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
But to them that decide justly shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
He kisseth the lips that 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 make it fit for thyself in the field; 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 deceive not 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 the slothful, and 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.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thistles, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction.
33 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
'Yet 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 shall thy poverty come as a runner, and thy want as an armed man.
