Mithali 24
1 Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
Do not be envious of evil men, And do not 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 meditates [on] destruction, And their lips speak perverseness.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
A house is built by wisdom, And it establishes itself by understanding.
4 kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
And the inner parts are filled by knowledge, [With] all precious and pleasant wealth.
5 Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
The wise [is] mighty in strength, And a man of knowledge is strengthening power,
6 kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
For you make war for yourself by plans, And deliverance [is] in a multitude of counselors.
7 Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
Wisdom [is] high for a fool, he does not open his mouth in the gate.
8 Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
Whoever is devising to do evil, They call him a master of wicked thoughts.
9 Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
The thought of folly [is] sin, And a scorner [is] an abomination to man.
10 Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
You have showed yourself weak in a day of adversity, Your power is restricted,
11 Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
If [from] delivering those taken to death, And you take back those slipping to the 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?
When you say, “Behold, we did not know this.” Is the Ponderer of hearts not He who understands? And the Keeper of your soul He who knows? And He has rendered to man according to his work.
13 Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
My son, eat honey that [is] good, And the honeycomb [is] sweet to your 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 [is] the knowledge of wisdom to your soul, If you have found that there is a posterity And your hope is not cut off.
15 Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
Do not lay wait, O wicked one, At the habitation of the righteous. Do not spoil his resting place.
16 Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.
For the righteous fall and rise seven [times], And the wicked stumble in evil.
17 Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.
Do not rejoice in the falling of your enemy, And do not let your heart be joyful in his stumbling,
18 Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.
Lest YHWH see, and [it be] evil in His eyes, And He has turned His anger from off him.
19 Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
Do not fret yourself at evildoers, do not be envious at the wicked,
20 kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
For there is not a posterity to the evil, The lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
21 Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,
Fear YHWH, my son, and the king, Do not mix yourself up with changers,
22 kwa maana hao wawili watatuma maangamizi ya ghafula juu yao, naye ni nani ajuaye maafa wawezayo kuleta?
For their calamity rises suddenly, And the ruin of them both—who knows!
23 Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
These are also for the wise: [It] is not good to discern faces in judgment.
24 Yeyote amwambiaye mwenye hatia, “Wewe huna hatia,” Kabila zitamlaani na mataifa yatamkana.
Whoever is saying to the wicked, “You [are] righteous,” Peoples execrate him—nations abhor him.
25 Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
And it is pleasant to those reproving, And a good blessing comes on them.
26 Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
He who is returning straightforward words kisses lips.
27 Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare your work in an out-place, And make it ready in the field—go afterward, Then you have built your house.
28 Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
Do not be a witness against your neighbor for nothing, Or you have enticed with your lips.
29 Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”
Do not say, “As he did to me, so I do to him, I render to each according to his work.”
30 Nilipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, karibu na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili,
I passed by near the field of a slothful man, And near the vineyard of a man lacking heart.
31 miiba ilikuwa imeota kila mahali, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa na magugu, na ukuta wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
And behold, it has gone up—all of it—thorns! Nettles have covered its face, And its stone wall has been broken down.
32 Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
And I see—I set my heart, I have seen—I have 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 lie down.
34 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
And your poverty has come [as] a traveler, And your want as an armed man!
