Mithali 31
1 Misemo ya Mfalme Lemueli, usia wa mama yake aliyomfundisha:
THE WORDS OF KING LEMUEL: The prophecie which his mother taught him.
2 “Ee mwanangu, ee mwana wa tumbo langu, ee mwana wa nadhiri zangu,
What my sonne! and what ye sonne of my wombe! and what, O sonne of my desires!
3 Usitumie nguvu zako kwa wanawake, uhodari wako kwa wale wanaowaharibu wafalme.
Giue not thy strength vnto women, nor thy wayes, which is to destroy 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 drink wine nor for princes strog drinke,
5 wasije wakanywa na kusahau vile sheria inavyoamuru na kuwanyima haki zao wote walioonewa.
Lest he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction.
6 Wape kileo wale wanaoangamia, mvinyo wale walio na uchungu,
Giue ye strong drinke vnto him that is readie to perish, and wine vnto them that haue griefe of heart.
7 Wanywe na kusahau umaskini wao na wasikumbuke taabu yao tena.
Let him drinke, that he may forget his pouertie, and remember his miserie no more.
8 “Sema kwa ajili ya wale wasioweza kujisemea, kwa ajili ya haki za wote walioachwa ukiwa.
Open thy mouth for the domme in the cause of all the children of destruction.
9 Sema na uamue kwa haki, tetea haki za maskini na wahitaji.”
Open thy mouth: iudge righteously, and iudge the afflicted, and the poore.
10 Mke mwenye sifa nzuri, ni nani awezaye kumpata? Yeye ni wa thamani sana kuliko marijani.
Who shall finde a vertuous woman? for her price is farre aboue the pearles.
11 Mume wake anamwamini kikamilifu wala hakosi kitu chochote cha thamani.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall haue no neede of spoyle.
12 Humtendea mumewe mema, wala si mabaya, siku zote za maisha yake.
She will doe him good, and not euill all the dayes of her life.
13 Huchagua sufu na kitani naye hufanya kazi kwa mikono yenye bidii.
She seeketh wooll and flaxe, and laboureth cheerefully with her handes.
14 Yeye ni kama meli za biashara akileta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
She is like the shippes of marchants: shee bringeth her foode from afarre.
15 Yeye huamka kungali bado giza huwapa jamaa yake chakula na mafungu kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
And she riseth, whiles it is yet night: and giueth the portion to her houshold, and the ordinarie to her maides.
16 Huangalia shamba na kulinunua, kutokana na mapato yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
She considereth a field, and getteth it: and with the fruite of her handes she planteth a vineyarde.
17 Hufanya kazi zake kwa nguvu, mikono yake ina nguvu kwa ajili ya kazi zake.
She girdeth her loynes with strength, and strengtheneth her armes.
18 Huona kwamba biashara yake ina faida, wala taa yake haizimiki usiku.
She feeleth that her marchandise is good: her candle is not put out by night.
19 Huweka mikono yake kwenye pia, navyo vidole vyake hushikilia kijiti chenye uzi.
She putteth her handes to the wherue, and her handes handle the spindle.
20 Huwanyooshea maskini mikono yake na kuwakunjulia wahitaji vitanga vyake.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poore, and putteth foorth her hands to the needie.
21 Theluji ishukapo, hana hofu kwa ajili ya watu wa nyumbani mwake, kwa maana wote wamevikwa nguo za kutia joto.
She feareth not the snowe for her familie: for all her familie is clothed with skarlet.
22 Hutengeneza mazulia ya urembo ya kufunika kitanda chake, yeye huvaa kitani safi na urujuani.
She maketh her selfe carpets: fine linen and purple is her garment.
23 Mume wake anaheshimiwa kwenye lango la mji, aketipo miongoni mwa wazee wa nchi.
Her husband is knowen in the gates, when he sitteth with the Elders of the land.
24 Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, naye huwauzia wafanyabiashara mishipi.
She maketh sheetes, and selleth them, and giueth girdels vnto the marchant.
25 Amevikwa nguvu na heshima, anaweza kucheka bila kuwa na hofu kwa siku zijazo.
Strength and honour is her clothing, and in the latter day she shall reioyce.
26 Huzungumza kwa hekima na mafundisho ya kuaminika yapo ulimini mwake.
She openeth her mouth with wisdome, and the lawe of grace is in her tongue.
27 Huangalia mambo ya nyumbani mwake wala hali chakula cha uvivu.
She ouerseeth the wayes of her housholde, and eateth not the bread of ydlenes.
28 Watoto wake huamka na kumwita aliyebarikiwa, mumewe pia humsifu, akisema:
Her children rise vp, and call her blessed: her husband also shall prayse her, saying,
29 “Wanawake wengi hufanya vitu vyenye sifa nzuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
Many daughters haue done vertuously: but thou surmountest them all.
30 Kujipamba ili kuvutia ni udanganyifu na uzuri unapita upesi, bali mwanamke anayemcha Bwana atasifiwa.
Fauour is deceitfull, and beautie is vanitie: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praysed.
31 Mpe thawabu anayostahili, nazo kazi zake na zimletee sifa kwenye lango la mji.
Giue her of the fruite of her hands, and let her owne workes prayse her in the gates.
