Mithali 3

1 Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,

[My] son, forget not my laws; but let thine heart keep my words:

2 kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.

for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3 Usiache kamwe upendo na uaminifu vitengane nawe; vifunge shingoni mwako, viandike katika ubao wa moyo wako.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; but bind them about thy neck:

4 Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.

so shalt thou find favour: and do thou provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.

5 Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;

Trust in God with all thine heart; and be not exalted in thine own wisdom.

6 katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.

In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.

7 Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.

Be not wise in thine own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.

8 Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.

Then shall there be health to thy body, and good keeping to thy bones.

9 Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;

Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy fruits of righteousness:

10 ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.

that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy presses may burst forth with wine.

11 Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,

[My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

12 kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.

for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.

13 Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,

Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.

14 kwa maana hekima ana faida kuliko fedha na mapato yake ni bora kuliko ya dhahabu safi.

For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.

15 Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.

And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.

16 Maisha marefu yako katika mkono wake wa kuume; katika mkono wake wa kushoto kuna utajiri na heshima.

For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.

17 Njia zake zinapendeza, mapito yake yote ni amani.

Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.

18 Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomkumbatia; wale wamshikao watabarikiwa.

She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.

19 Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;

God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.

20 kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.

By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.

21 Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;

[My] son, let [them] not pass from [thee], but keep my counsel and understanding:

22 ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.

that thy soul may live, and that there may be grace round thy neck; and it shall be health to thy flesh, and safety to thy bones:

23 Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;

that thou mayest go confidently in peace in all thy ways, and that thy foot may not stumble.

24 ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.

For if thou rest, thou shalt be undismayed; and if thou sleep, thou shalt slumber sweetly.

25 Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,

And thou shalt not be afraid of alarm coming upon thee, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.

26 kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.

For the Lord shall be over all thy ways, and shall establish thy foot that thou be not moved.

27 Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.

Forbear not to do good to the poor, whensoever thy hand may have [power] to help [him].

28 Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.

Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while thou art able to do [him] good: for thou knowest not what the next day will bring forth.

29 Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.

Devise not evil against thy friend, living near thee and trusting in thee.

30 Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.

Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.

31 Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,

Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways.

32 kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.

For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.

33 Laana ya Bwana i juu ya nyumba ya mwovu, lakini yeye huibariki nyumba ya mwenye haki.

The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.

34 Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.

The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.

35 Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.

The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.