Mithali 3
1 Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,
My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
2 kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.
For length of days, 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: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
5 Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not upon thine own understanding:
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.
Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the LORD, and depart from evil:
8 Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
9 Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;
Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
10 ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
11 Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his reproof:
12 kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.
For whom the LORD loveth he reproveth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14 kwa maana hekima ana faida kuliko fedha na mapato yake ni bora kuliko ya dhahabu safi.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15 Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.
She is more precious than rubies: and none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto 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 had; in her left hand are riches and honour.
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 them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19 Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;
The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.
20 kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.
By his knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.
21 Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;
22 ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;
Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
24 ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
25 Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,
Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:
26 kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.
For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
27 Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.
Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28 Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
29 Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.
Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.
Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
31 Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,
Envy thou not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.
32 kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.
For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with 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 in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
34 Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.
Surely he scorneth the scorners, but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
35 Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.
The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
