Mithali 3
1 Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,
My son, mine instruction, do not thou forget, and, my commandment, let thy heart observe;
2 kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.
For, length of days and years of life, and blessedness, shall they add to thee.
3 Usiache kamwe upendo na uaminifu vitengane nawe; vifunge shingoni mwako, viandike katika ubao wa moyo wako.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, let them not forsake thee, —bind them, upon thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.
So find thou favour and good repute, in the eyes of God and man.
5 Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
Trust thou in Yahweh, with all thy heart, and, unto thine own understanding, do not lean:
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.
In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and, he, will make straight thy paths.
7 Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.
Do not become wise in thine own eyes, revere Yahweh, and avoid evil:
8 Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.
Healing, shall it be to thy body, and refreshing, to thy bones.
9 Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;
Honour thou Yahweh, with thy substance, and with the firstfruit of all thine increase;
10 ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.
So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and, with new wine, shall thy vats overflow.
11 Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,
The, chastening of Yahweh, my son, do not reject, nor loathe his rebuke;
12 kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.
For, whom Yahweh loveth, he correcteth, he causeth pain to the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,
How happy the man who hath found wisdom, and the man who draweth 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, yea, than gold, her increase;
15 Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.
More precious, is she, than corals, yea, none of thy delightful things, doth equal 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 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.
A tree of life, is she, to them who secure her, —and, they who hold her fast, are every one to be pronounced happy.
19 Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;
Yahweh, in wisdom, founded the earth, establishing the heavens with understanding;
20 kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.
By his knowledge, the resounding deeps were burst open, and, the skies, drop down dew.
21 Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes, guard thou counsel, and purpose:
22 ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.
So shall they become life to thy soul, and an adorning to thy neck;
23 Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;
Then, shalt thou walk securely in thy way, and, thy foot, shall not stumble;
24 ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
When thou sittest down, thou shalt have no dread, yea thou shalt lie down, and sweet shall be thy sleep.
25 Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,
Be not thou afraid of sudden dread, nor of the desolation of the lawless, when it cometh.
26 kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.
For, Yahweh, will be in all thy ways, and will keep thy foot from the snare.
27 Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.
Withhold not good from them who ask it, when it is in power of thy hand to do it:
28 Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
Do not say to thy neighbour, Go and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
29 Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.
Devise not against thy neighbour an injury, seeing that, he, dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.
Contend not with a man without cause, if he hath dealt thee no wrong.
31 Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,
Do not thou envy the man of violence, neither choose thou any of his ways;
32 kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.
For, an abomination to Yahweh, is the tortuous man, but, with the upright, he is intimate.
33 Laana ya Bwana i juu ya nyumba ya mwovu, lakini yeye huibariki nyumba ya mwenye haki.
The curse of Yahweh, is in the house of the lawless one, but, the home of the righteous, he blesseth.
34 Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.
Though at scoffers he scoffeth, yet, to the humbled, he granteth favour.
35 Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.
Honour, shall the wise inherit, —but, as for dullards, shame shall carry them away.
