Mithali 3
1 Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,
My son! Do not forget my law, And let your heart keep my commands,
2 kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.
For [the] length of [your] days and years, Life and peace they add to you.
3 Usiache kamwe upendo na uaminifu vitengane nawe; vifunge shingoni mwako, viandike katika ubao wa moyo wako.
Do not let kindness and truth forsake you, Bind them on your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.
And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
5 Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
Trust to YHWH with all your heart, And do not lean to your own understanding.
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.
In all your ways know Him, And He makes your paths straight.
7 Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.
Do not be wise in your own eyes, Fear YHWH, and turn aside from evil.
8 Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.
It is healing to your navel, And moistening to your bones.
9 Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;
Honor YHWH from your substance, And from the beginning of all your increase;
10 ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.
And your barns are filled [with] plenty, And your presses break forth [with] new wine.
11 Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,
Discipline of YHWH, my son, do not despise, And do not be distressed with His reproof,
12 kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.
For whom YHWH loves He reproves, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
13 Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,
O the blessedness of a man [who] has found wisdom, And of a man [who] brings forth understanding.
14 kwa maana hekima ana faida kuliko fedha na mapato yake ni bora kuliko ya dhahabu safi.
For better [is] her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold—her increase.
15 Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.
She [is] precious above rubies, And all your pleasures are not comparable to 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, In her left [are] wealth and honor.
17 Njia zake zinapendeza, mapito yake yote ni amani.
Her ways [are] ways of pleasantness, And all her paths [are] peace.
18 Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomkumbatia; wale wamshikao watabarikiwa.
She [is] a tree of life to those laying hold on her, And whoever is retaining her [is] blessed.
19 Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;
YHWH founded the earth by wisdom, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
20 kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.
By His knowledge depths have been broken, And clouds drop dew.
21 Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;
My son! Do not let them turn from your eyes, Keep wisdom and thoughtfulness,
22 ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.
And they are life to your soul, and grace to your neck.
23 Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;
Then you go your way confidently, And your foot does not stumble.
24 ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
If you lie down, you are not afraid, Indeed, you have lain down, And your sleep has been sweet.
25 Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,
Do not be afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it comes.
26 kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.
For YHWH is at your side, And He has kept your foot from capture.
27 Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.
Do not withhold good from its owners, When your hand [is] toward God to do [it].
28 Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
Do not say to your friend, “Go, and return, and tomorrow I give,” When substance [is] with you.
29 Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.
Do not devise evil against your neighbor, And he sitting confidently with you.
30 Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.
Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has not done you evil.
31 Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,
Do not be envious of a man of violence, Nor fix on any of his ways.
32 kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.
For the perverted [is] an abomination to YHWH, And His secret counsel [is] with the upright.
33 Laana ya Bwana i juu ya nyumba ya mwovu, lakini yeye huibariki nyumba ya mwenye haki.
The curse of YHWH [is] in the house of the wicked. And He blesses the habitation of the righteous.
34 Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.
If He scorns the scorners, Yet He gives grace to the humble.
35 Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.
The wise inherit glory, And fools are bearing away shame!
