Mithali 3
1 Mwanangu, usisahau mafundisho yangu, bali zitunze amri zangu moyoni mwako,
My son, do not forget what I have taught you. Keep my commands in your inner being,
2 kwa kuwa zitakuongezea miaka mingi ya maisha yako na kukuletea mafanikio.
because [if you obey them] you will live a long time and things will go well for you
3 Usiache kamwe upendo na uaminifu vitengane nawe; vifunge shingoni mwako, viandike katika ubao wa moyo wako.
Always faithfully love others and (be faithful/do what you say that you will do); doing those things [will cause others to be pleased with you]; it will be as though you are wearing a beautiful necklace. Keep those things in your mind/inner being.
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na jina zuri mbele za Mungu na mwanadamu.
If you do, God and people will approve of you and think highly of you [MTY].
5 Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
Trust in Yahweh completely, and do not rely on what you yourself understand.
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, naye atayanyoosha mapito yako.
Always allow him to lead you. If you do that, he will (show you the right path/direct your life).
7 Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Bwana ukajiepushe na uovu.
Do not be proud of being wise. [Instead], revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.
8 Hii itakuletea afya mwilini mwako, na mafuta kwenye mifupa yako.
If you do that, your body will be healthy/strong; it will be [like] medicine for you.
9 Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali zako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote;
Honor Yahweh by [what you do with] your money; and [by giving him] the first part of your harvest.
10 ndipo ghala zako zitakapojaa hadi kufurika, viriba vyako vitafurika kwa mvinyo mpya.
If you do that, [you will have a good harvest]. Yahweh will fill your barns [with grain], and your vats/containers will be overflowing with [grape juice for making] wine.
11 Mwanangu, usiidharau adhabu ya Bwana na usichukie kukaripiwa naye,
My son, when Yahweh disciplines/corrects you, do not despise it, and if he rebukes you, do not resent it.
12 kwa sababu Bwana huwaadibisha wale awapendao, kama vile baba afanyavyo kwa mwana apendezwaye naye.
[I say that] because it is the people whom Yahweh loves that he corrects/reproves, [just] like parents correct/reprove their sons whom they love.
13 Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, mtu yule apataye ufahamu,
[Yahweh] is pleased with those who become wise and have good understanding.
14 kwa maana hekima ana faida kuliko fedha na mapato yake ni bora kuliko ya dhahabu safi.
Being wise and having good understanding is worth more than silver, better than gold.
15 Hekima ana thamani kuliko marijani; hakuna chochote unachokitamani kinachoweza kulinganishwa naye.
Being wise is more precious than (jewels/precious stones); there is nothing that you could desire [that would be as valuable] as wisdom.
16 Maisha marefu yako katika mkono wake wa kuume; katika mkono wake wa kushoto kuna utajiri na heshima.
On the one hand, wisdom [PRS] enables [you] to live a long life, and on the other hand, wisdom enables [you] to become rich and to be honored.
17 Njia zake zinapendeza, mapito yake yote ni amani.
If [you] are wise, [your] life will be pleasant, and things will go well [for you].
18 Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomkumbatia; wale wamshikao watabarikiwa.
Wisdom is [like] a tree that gives long life to those who [eagerly] take hold of it, and [Yahweh] is pleased with those who hold onto it tightly.
19 Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziweka mbingu mahali pake;
By his wisdom Yahweh created the earth, and by his understanding he put everything in the skies.
20 kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanywa, nayo mawingu yanadondosha umande.
By his knowledge [he caused] the water that was beneath the earth to burst forth, and he caused rain to fall from the clouds.
21 Mwanangu, hifadhi maamuzi mema na busara, usiache vitoke machoni pako;
My son, [always] keep doing things that are right and things that are smart. If you do that,
22 ndipo vitakapokuwa uzima nafsini mwako na pambo la neema shingoni mwako.
you will live [many years] and be honored and respected {people will honor and respect you}.
23 Kisha utaenda katika njia yako salama, wala mguu wako hautajikwaa;
If you do what is right and wise, you will [be able to] walk safely, and you will not (stumble/do things that are wrong) [MET].
24 ulalapo, hautaogopa; ulalapo usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
You will [be able to] lie down [at night] and not be afraid [of anything], and you will sleep peacefully.
25 Usiogope maafa ya ghafula au maangamizi yanayowapata waovu,
You will not be afraid that something disastrous will happen to you or that storms that strike the wicked will strike you,
26 kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako na kuepusha mguu wako kunaswa katika mtego.
because you will be confident that Yahweh [will take care of you]. He will not let your foot be caught in a trap/snare.
27 Usizuie wema kwa wale wanaostahili ikiwa katika uwezo wako kutenda.
If you are able to help people who deserve it, do not refuse to help them.
28 Usimwambie jirani yako, “Njoo baadaye, nitakupa kesho”: wakati wewe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
If you are able to help someone you interact with, do not say, “Come back later; [perhaps] I can help you tomorrow.”
29 Usifanye hila ya kumdhuru jirani yako, ambaye anaishi karibu na wewe akikuamini.
Do not make plans to harm those you interact with regularly, [because] they live near you, and they trust you.
30 Usimshtaki mtu bila sababu, wakati hajakutenda dhara lolote.
If someone has not harmed you, do not accuse him [by saying that he has harmed you].
31 Usimwonee wivu mtu mwenye jeuri wala kuchagua njia yake iwayo yote,
Do not envy people who [obtain things by] violent actions, and do not imitate/do what they do.
32 kwa kuwa Bwana humchukia mtu mpotovu, lakini siri yake iko kwa mwenye haki.
[I say that] because Yahweh considers such people to be abominable/detestable; but he is a friend to [all] those who do what is right.
33 Laana ya Bwana i juu ya nyumba ya mwovu, lakini yeye huibariki nyumba ya mwenye haki.
Yahweh curses the families [MTY] of those who are wicked, but he blesses the families of those who are good/righteous.
34 Huwadhihaki wale wanaodhihaki, lakini huwapa neema wale wanyenyekevu.
Yahweh makes fun of those who make fun [of others], but he kindly helps those who are humble.
35 Wenye hekima hurithi heshima, bali huwaaibisha wapumbavu.
Wise [people] will be honored {people will honor wise people}, but foolish people will be dishonored/disgraced.
