< Mithali 31 >
1 Misemo ya Mfalme Lemueli, usia wa mama yake aliyomfundisha:
These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
2 “Ee mwanangu, ee mwana wa tumbo langu, ee mwana wa nadhiri zangu,
You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
3 Usitumie nguvu zako kwa wanawake, uhodari wako kwa wale wanaowaharibu wafalme.
Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
4 “Ee Lemueli, haifai wafalme, haifai wafalme kunywa mvinyo, haifai watawala kutamani sana kileo,
Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
5 wasije wakanywa na kusahau vile sheria inavyoamuru na kuwanyima haki zao wote walioonewa.
If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
6 Wape kileo wale wanaoangamia, mvinyo wale walio na uchungu,
Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
7 Wanywe na kusahau umaskini wao na wasikumbuke taabu yao tena.
If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
8 “Sema kwa ajili ya wale wasioweza kujisemea, kwa ajili ya haki za wote walioachwa ukiwa.
Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
9 Sema na uamue kwa haki, tetea haki za maskini na wahitaji.”
Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
10 Mke mwenye sifa nzuri, ni nani awezaye kumpata? Yeye ni wa thamani sana kuliko marijani.
It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
11 Mume wake anamwamini kikamilifu wala hakosi kitu chochote cha thamani.
Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
12 Humtendea mumewe mema, wala si mabaya, siku zote za maisha yake.
She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
13 Huchagua sufu na kitani naye hufanya kazi kwa mikono yenye bidii.
She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
14 Yeye ni kama meli za biashara akileta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
15 Yeye huamka kungali bado giza huwapa jamaa yake chakula na mafungu kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
16 Huangalia shamba na kulinunua, kutokana na mapato yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
17 Hufanya kazi zake kwa nguvu, mikono yake ina nguvu kwa ajili ya kazi zake.
She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
18 Huona kwamba biashara yake ina faida, wala taa yake haizimiki usiku.
She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
19 Huweka mikono yake kwenye pia, navyo vidole vyake hushikilia kijiti chenye uzi.
She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
20 Huwanyooshea maskini mikono yake na kuwakunjulia wahitaji vitanga vyake.
She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
21 Theluji ishukapo, hana hofu kwa ajili ya watu wa nyumbani mwake, kwa maana wote wamevikwa nguo za kutia joto.
She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
22 Hutengeneza mazulia ya urembo ya kufunika kitanda chake, yeye huvaa kitani safi na urujuani.
She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
23 Mume wake anaheshimiwa kwenye lango la mji, aketipo miongoni mwa wazee wa nchi.
Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
24 Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, naye huwauzia wafanyabiashara mishipi.
She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
25 Amevikwa nguvu na heshima, anaweza kucheka bila kuwa na hofu kwa siku zijazo.
She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
26 Huzungumza kwa hekima na mafundisho ya kuaminika yapo ulimini mwake.
When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
27 Huangalia mambo ya nyumbani mwake wala hali chakula cha uvivu.
She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
28 Watoto wake huamka na kumwita aliyebarikiwa, mumewe pia humsifu, akisema:
Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
29 “Wanawake wengi hufanya vitu vyenye sifa nzuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
[He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Kujipamba ili kuvutia ni udanganyifu na uzuri unapita upesi, bali mwanamke anayemcha Bwana atasifiwa.
Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
31 Mpe thawabu anayostahili, nazo kazi zake na zimletee sifa kwenye lango la mji.
Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.