Mithali 3
1 Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,
My son, forget not my law, and let thy heart keep my commandments.
2 kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.
For they shall add to thee length of days, and 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 truth leave thee, put them about thy neck, and write them in the tables of thy heart:
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.
And thou shalt And grace and good understanding before God and men.
5 Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence.
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.
In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.
7 Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.
I Be not wise in thy own conceit: fear God, and depart from evil:
8 Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.
For it shall be health to thy navel, and moistening to thy bones.
9 Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and give him of the first of all thy fruits:
10 ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.
And thy barns shall be filled with abundance, and thy presses shall run over with wine.
11 Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,
My son, reject not the correction of the Lord: and do not faint when thou art chastised by him:
12 kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.
For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth: and as a father in the son he pleaseth himself.
13 Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,
Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom and is rich in prudence:
14 kwa maana hekima ana faida kuliko fedha na mapato yake ni bora kuliko ya dhahabu safi.
The purchasing thereof is better than the merchandise of silver, and her fruit than the chiefest and purest gold:
15 Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.
She is more precious than all riches: and all the things that are desired, are not to be compared with her.
16 Maisha marefu yako katika mkono wake wa kuume; katika mkono wake wa kushoto kuna utajiri na heshima.
Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and glory.
17 Njia zake zinapendeza, mapito yake yote ni amani.
Her ways are beautiful ways, and all her paths are peaceable.
18 Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomkumbatia; wale wamshikao watabarikiwa.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold on her: and he that shall retain her is blessed.
19 Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth, hath established the heavens by prudence.
20 kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.
By his wisdom the depths have broken out, and the clouds grow thick with dew.
21 Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;
My son, let not these things depart from thy eyes: keep the law and counsel:
22 ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.
And there shall be life to thy soul, and grace to thy mouth.
23 Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;
Then shalt thou walk confidently in thy way, and thy foot shall not stumble:
24 ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
If thou sleep, thou shalt not fear: thou shalt rest, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,
Be not afraid of sudden fear, nor of the power of the wicked falling upon thee.
26 kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.
For the Lord will be at thy side, and will keep thy foot that thou be not taken.
27 Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.
Do not withhold him from doing good, who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.
28 Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
Say not to thy friend: Go, and come again: and tomorrow I will give to thee: when thou canst give at present.
29 Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.
Practise not evil against thy friend, when he hath confidence in thee.
30 Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.
Strive not against a man without cause, when he hath done thee no evil.
31 Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,
Envy not the unjust man, and do not follow his ways:
32 kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.
For every mocker is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is with the simple.
33 Laana ya Bwana i juu ya nyumba ya mwovu, lakini yeye huibariki nyumba ya mwenye haki.
Want is from the Lord in the house of the wicked: but the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34 Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.
He shall scorn the scorners, and to the meek he will give grace.
35 Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.
The wise shall possess glory: the promotion of fools is disgrace.
