Mithali 31
1 Misemo ya Mfalme Lemueli, usia wa mama yake aliyomfundisha:
The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:
2 “Ee mwanangu, ee mwana wa tumbo langu, ee mwana wa nadhiri zangu,
“What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?
3 Usitumie nguvu zako kwa wanawake, uhodari wako kwa wale wanaowaharibu wafalme.
Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.
4 “Ee Lemueli, haifai wafalme, haifai wafalme kunywa mvinyo, haifai watawala kutamani sana kileo,
Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.
5 wasije wakanywa na kusahau vile sheria inavyoamuru na kuwanyima haki zao wote walioonewa.
And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.
6 Wape kileo wale wanaoangamia, mvinyo wale walio na uchungu,
Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.
7 Wanywe na kusahau umaskini wao na wasikumbuke taabu yao tena.
Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 “Sema kwa ajili ya wale wasioweza kujisemea, kwa ajili ya haki za wote walioachwa ukiwa.
Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.
9 Sema na uamue kwa haki, tetea haki za maskini na wahitaji.”
Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.
10 Mke mwenye sifa nzuri, ni nani awezaye kumpata? Yeye ni wa thamani sana kuliko marijani.
Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.
11 Mume wake anamwamini kikamilifu wala hakosi kitu chochote cha thamani.
The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.
12 Humtendea mumewe mema, wala si mabaya, siku zote za maisha yake.
She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Huchagua sufu na kitani naye hufanya kazi kwa mikono yenye bidii.
She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.
14 Yeye ni kama meli za biashara akileta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.
15 Yeye huamka kungali bado giza huwapa jamaa yake chakula na mafungu kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.
16 Huangalia shamba na kulinunua, kutokana na mapato yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.
17 Hufanya kazi zake kwa nguvu, mikono yake ina nguvu kwa ajili ya kazi zake.
She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.
18 Huona kwamba biashara yake ina faida, wala taa yake haizimiki usiku.
She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.
19 Huweka mikono yake kwenye pia, navyo vidole vyake hushikilia kijiti chenye uzi.
She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 Huwanyooshea maskini mikono yake na kuwakunjulia wahitaji vitanga vyake.
She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.
21 Theluji ishukapo, hana hofu kwa ajili ya watu wa nyumbani mwake, kwa maana wote wamevikwa nguo za kutia joto.
She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.
22 Hutengeneza mazulia ya urembo ya kufunika kitanda chake, yeye huvaa kitani safi na urujuani.
She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Mume wake anaheshimiwa kwenye lango la mji, aketipo miongoni mwa wazee wa nchi.
Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.
24 Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, naye huwauzia wafanyabiashara mishipi.
She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.
25 Amevikwa nguvu na heshima, anaweza kucheka bila kuwa na hofu kwa siku zijazo.
Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.
26 Huzungumza kwa hekima na mafundisho ya kuaminika yapo ulimini mwake.
She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 Huangalia mambo ya nyumbani mwake wala hali chakula cha uvivu.
She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.
28 Watoto wake huamka na kumwita aliyebarikiwa, mumewe pia humsifu, akisema:
Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.
29 “Wanawake wengi hufanya vitu vyenye sifa nzuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.
30 Kujipamba ili kuvutia ni udanganyifu na uzuri unapita upesi, bali mwanamke anayemcha Bwana atasifiwa.
Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.
31 Mpe thawabu anayostahili, nazo kazi zake na zimletee sifa kwenye lango la mji.
Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.
