Mithali 24
1 Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
Be not thou envious of wicked men, And desire not 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 speak mischief.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
Through wisdom is a house builded, And by understanding is it established;
4 kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
Yea, by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and goodly substance.
5 Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
The wise man is strong; Yea, the man of understanding establisheth his strength.
6 kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
For by wise counsel shalt thou make war, And by the multitude of counsellors cometh success.
7 Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
Wisdom is too high for the fool; He openeth not his mouth at the gate.
8 Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
He that deviseth to do evil Shall be called mischief-master.
9 Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
The purpose of folly is sin; And a scoffer is an abomination to men.
10 Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
If thy spirit faint in the day of adversity, Faint will be thy strength.
11 Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
Deliver thou those who are dragged to death, And those who totter to the slaughter, —O keep them 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 sayst, “Behold, we knew it not!” Doth not he that weigheth the heart observe it? Yea, he that keepeth thy soul knoweth it. And he will render to every man according to his works.
13 Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
Eat honey, my son, for it is good, And the honeycomb, which 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 learn thou wisdom for thy soul! When thou hast found it, there shall be a reward, And thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
Plot not, O wicked man! against the habitation 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 though the righteous fall seven times, yet shall he rise up again; But the wicked shall fall into mischief.
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, and it displease him, And he turn away his anger from him.
19 Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
Fret not thyself on account of evil men, Neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
For there shall be no posterity 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 mingle 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 up suddenly, And their ruin, coming from them both, in a moment.
23 Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
These also are words of the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
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; Nations shall abhor him.
25 Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
But it shall be well with them that punish him, And the blessing of prosperity shall come upon them.
26 Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
He that giveth a right answer Kisseth the lips.
27 Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
Arrange thy work without, And prepare it in thy field: Afterwards thou mayst build thy house.
28 Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
Be not a witness without cause against thy neighbor, And deceive not 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 render to the man according to his doings.”
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, 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 overgrown with thorns, And 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 saw, and considered it well; I looked upon it. and 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 rest!”
34 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
So shall poverty come upon thee like a highwayman; Yea, want like an armed man.
