Mithali 31
1 Misemo ya Mfalme Lemueli, usia wa mama yake aliyomfundisha:
The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which he had from his mother.
2 “Ee mwanangu, ee mwana wa tumbo langu, ee mwana wa nadhiri zangu,
What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and what, O son of my body? and what, O son of my oaths?
3 Usitumie nguvu zako kwa wanawake, uhodari wako kwa wale wanaowaharibu wafalme.
Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which is the destruction of kings.
4 “Ee Lemueli, haifai wafalme, haifai wafalme kunywa mvinyo, haifai watawala kutamani sana kileo,
It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to take wine, or for rulers to say, Where is strong drink?
5 wasije wakanywa na kusahau vile sheria inavyoamuru na kuwanyima haki zao wote walioonewa.
For fear that through drinking they may come to have no respect for the law, wrongly judging the cause of those who are in trouble.
6 Wape kileo wale wanaoangamia, mvinyo wale walio na uchungu,
Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction, and wine to him whose soul is bitter:
7 Wanywe na kusahau umaskini wao na wasikumbuke taabu yao tena.
Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind, and the memory of his trouble will be gone.
8 “Sema kwa ajili ya wale wasioweza kujisemea, kwa ajili ya haki za wote walioachwa ukiwa.
Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in the cause of those who are ready for death.
9 Sema na uamue kwa haki, tetea haki za maskini na wahitaji.”
Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right decisions in the cause of the poor and those in need.
10 Mke mwenye sifa nzuri, ni nani awezaye kumpata? Yeye ni wa thamani sana kuliko marijani.
Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 Mume wake anamwamini kikamilifu wala hakosi kitu chochote cha thamani.
The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 Humtendea mumewe mema, wala si mabaya, siku zote za maisha yake.
She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 Huchagua sufu na kitani naye hufanya kazi kwa mikono yenye bidii.
She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 Yeye ni kama meli za biashara akileta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 Yeye huamka kungali bado giza huwapa jamaa yake chakula na mafungu kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 Huangalia shamba na kulinunua, kutokana na mapato yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 Hufanya kazi zake kwa nguvu, mikono yake ina nguvu kwa ajili ya kazi zake.
She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 Huona kwamba biashara yake ina faida, wala taa yake haizimiki usiku.
She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 Huweka mikono yake kwenye pia, navyo vidole vyake hushikilia kijiti chenye uzi.
She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 Huwanyooshea maskini mikono yake na kuwakunjulia wahitaji vitanga vyake.
Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 Theluji ishukapo, hana hofu kwa ajili ya watu wa nyumbani mwake, kwa maana wote wamevikwa nguo za kutia joto.
She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 Hutengeneza mazulia ya urembo ya kufunika kitanda chake, yeye huvaa kitani safi na urujuani.
She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 Mume wake anaheshimiwa kwenye lango la mji, aketipo miongoni mwa wazee wa nchi.
Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, naye huwauzia wafanyabiashara mishipi.
She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 Amevikwa nguvu na heshima, anaweza kucheka bila kuwa na hofu kwa siku zijazo.
Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 Huzungumza kwa hekima na mafundisho ya kuaminika yapo ulimini mwake.
Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 Huangalia mambo ya nyumbani mwake wala hali chakula cha uvivu.
She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Watoto wake huamka na kumwita aliyebarikiwa, mumewe pia humsifu, akisema:
Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 “Wanawake wengi hufanya vitu vyenye sifa nzuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 Kujipamba ili kuvutia ni udanganyifu na uzuri unapita upesi, bali mwanamke anayemcha Bwana atasifiwa.
Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
31 Mpe thawabu anayostahili, nazo kazi zake na zimletee sifa kwenye lango la mji.
Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.
