Mithali 24
1 Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.
2 kwa maana mioyo yao hupanga mambo ya jeuri, nayo midomo yao husema juu ya kuleta madhara.
For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
4 kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.
5 Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.
6 kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
7 Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.
8 Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
9 Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
10 Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
11 Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
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 shouldst say, Behold, we know not this man: lo, he that weigheth hearts will truly regard it, and he that keepeth thy soul will surely know it; and he will give a recompense to man according to his doing.
13 Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
14 Ujue pia kwamba hekima ni tamu kwa nafsi yako, kama ukiipata, kuna matumaini kwako ya siku zijazo, nalo tumaini lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
So obtain the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: when thou hast found her, then shall there be a [happy] 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; waste not his resting-place;
16 Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.
For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
17 Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.
At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
18 Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.
Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
19 Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
21 Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,
My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
22 kwa maana hao wawili watatuma maangamizi ya ghafula juu yao, naye ni nani ajuaye maafa wawezayo kuleta?
For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!
23 Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
These things also are for 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.
Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
25 Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
26 Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
27 Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.
28 Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?
29 Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”
Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.
30 Nilipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, karibu na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili,
By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
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 thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
32 Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
33 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
34 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.
