Mithali 3
1 Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,
My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart:
2 kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.
For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace.
3 Usiache kamwe upendo na uaminifu vitengane nawe; vifunge shingoni mwako, viandike katika ubao wa moyo wako.
Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.
So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men.
5 Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.
In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.
7 Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.
Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil:
8 Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.
This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones.
9 Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;
Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase:
10 ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.
So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine.
11 Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,
My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training:
12 kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.
For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.
13 Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,
Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.
14 kwa maana hekima ana faida kuliko fedha na mapato yake ni bora kuliko ya dhahabu safi.
For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold.
15 Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.
She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her.
16 Maisha marefu yako katika mkono wake wa kuume; katika mkono wake wa kushoto kuna utajiri na heshima.
Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour.
17 Njia zake zinapendeza, mapito yake yote ni amani.
Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace.
18 Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomkumbatia; wale wamshikao watabarikiwa.
She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.
19 Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;
The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place.
20 kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.
By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.
21 Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;
My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.
22 ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.
So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck.
23 Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;
Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping.
24 ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you.
25 Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,
Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers:
26 kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.
For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.
27 Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.
Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.
28 Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time.
29 Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.
Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear.
30 Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.
Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong.
31 Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,
Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example.
32 kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.
For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright.
33 Laana ya Bwana i juu ya nyumba ya mwovu, lakini yeye huibariki nyumba ya mwenye haki.
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright.
34 Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.
He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted.
35 Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.
The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.
