Mithali 31
1 Misemo ya Mfalme Lemueli, usia wa mama yake aliyomfundisha:
The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2 “Ee mwanangu, ee mwana wa tumbo langu, ee mwana wa nadhiri zangu,
What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3 Usitumie nguvu zako kwa wanawake, uhodari wako kwa wale wanaowaharibu wafalme.
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4 “Ee Lemueli, haifai wafalme, haifai wafalme kunywa mvinyo, haifai watawala kutamani sana kileo,
Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5 wasije wakanywa na kusahau vile sheria inavyoamuru na kuwanyima haki zao wote walioonewa.
And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6 Wape kileo wale wanaoangamia, mvinyo wale walio na uchungu,
Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7 Wanywe na kusahau umaskini wao na wasikumbuke taabu yao tena.
Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 “Sema kwa ajili ya wale wasioweza kujisemea, kwa ajili ya haki za wote walioachwa ukiwa.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9 Sema na uamue kwa haki, tetea haki za maskini na wahitaji.”
Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10 Mke mwenye sifa nzuri, ni nani awezaye kumpata? Yeye ni wa thamani sana kuliko marijani.
Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 Mume wake anamwamini kikamilifu wala hakosi kitu chochote cha thamani.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12 Humtendea mumewe mema, wala si mabaya, siku zote za maisha yake.
She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Huchagua sufu na kitani naye hufanya kazi kwa mikono yenye bidii.
She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14 Yeye ni kama meli za biashara akileta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15 Yeye huamka kungali bado giza huwapa jamaa yake chakula na mafungu kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16 Huangalia shamba na kulinunua, kutokana na mapato yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 Hufanya kazi zake kwa nguvu, mikono yake ina nguvu kwa ajili ya kazi zake.
She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18 Huona kwamba biashara yake ina faida, wala taa yake haizimiki usiku.
She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19 Huweka mikono yake kwenye pia, navyo vidole vyake hushikilia kijiti chenye uzi.
She hath put out 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 hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out 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 for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 Hutengeneza mazulia ya urembo ya kufunika kitanda chake, yeye huvaa kitani safi na urujuani.
She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23 Mume wake anaheshimiwa kwenye lango la mji, aketipo miongoni mwa wazee wa nchi.
Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24 Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, naye huwauzia wafanyabiashara mishipi.
She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25 Amevikwa nguvu na heshima, anaweza kucheka bila kuwa na hofu kwa siku zijazo.
Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 Huzungumza kwa hekima na mafundisho ya kuaminika yapo ulimini mwake.
She hath 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 hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28 Watoto wake huamka na kumwita aliyebarikiwa, mumewe pia humsifu, akisema:
Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29 “Wanawake wengi hufanya vitu vyenye sifa nzuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30 Kujipamba ili kuvutia ni udanganyifu na uzuri unapita upesi, bali mwanamke anayemcha Bwana atasifiwa.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Mpe thawabu anayostahili, nazo kazi zake na zimletee sifa kwenye lango la mji.
Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
