Mithali 31
1 Misemo ya Mfalme Lemueli, usia wa mama yake aliyomfundisha:
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 “Ee mwanangu, ee mwana wa tumbo langu, ee mwana wa nadhiri zangu,
'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Usitumie nguvu zako kwa wanawake, uhodari wako kwa wale wanaowaharibu wafalme.
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4 “Ee Lemueli, haifai wafalme, haifai wafalme kunywa mvinyo, haifai watawala kutamani sana kileo,
Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5 wasije wakanywa na kusahau vile sheria inavyoamuru na kuwanyima haki zao wote walioonewa.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Wape kileo wale wanaoangamia, mvinyo wale walio na uchungu,
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 Wanywe na kusahau umaskini wao na wasikumbuke taabu yao tena.
He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8 “Sema kwa ajili ya wale wasioweza kujisemea, kwa ajili ya haki za wote walioachwa ukiwa.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Sema na uamue kwa haki, tetea haki za maskini na wahitaji.”
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
10 Mke mwenye sifa nzuri, ni nani awezaye kumpata? Yeye ni wa thamani sana kuliko marijani.
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11 Mume wake anamwamini kikamilifu wala hakosi kitu chochote cha thamani.
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12 Humtendea mumewe mema, wala si mabaya, siku zote za maisha yake.
She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13 Huchagua sufu na kitani naye hufanya kazi kwa mikono yenye bidii.
She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14 Yeye ni kama meli za biashara akileta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15 Yeye huamka kungali bado giza huwapa jamaa yake chakula na mafungu kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16 Huangalia shamba na kulinunua, kutokana na mapato yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From 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 with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18 Huona kwamba biashara yake ina faida, wala taa yake haizimiki usiku.
She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Huweka mikono yake kwenye pia, navyo vidole vyake hushikilia kijiti chenye uzi.
Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 Huwanyooshea maskini mikono yake na kuwakunjulia wahitaji vitanga vyake.
Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
21 Theluji ishukapo, hana hofu kwa ajili ya watu wa nyumbani mwake, kwa maana wote wamevikwa nguo za kutia joto.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 Hutengeneza mazulia ya urembo ya kufunika kitanda chake, yeye huvaa kitani safi na urujuani.
Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Mume wake anaheshimiwa kwenye lango la mji, aketipo miongoni mwa wazee wa nchi.
Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24 Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, naye huwauzia wafanyabiashara mishipi.
Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25 Amevikwa nguvu na heshima, anaweza kucheka bila kuwa na hofu kwa siku zijazo.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26 Huzungumza kwa hekima na mafundisho ya kuaminika yapo ulimini mwake.
Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 Huangalia mambo ya nyumbani mwake wala hali chakula cha uvivu.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28 Watoto wake huamka na kumwita aliyebarikiwa, mumewe pia humsifu, akisema:
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29 “Wanawake wengi hufanya vitu vyenye sifa nzuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
30 Kujipamba ili kuvutia ni udanganyifu na uzuri unapita upesi, bali mwanamke anayemcha Bwana atasifiwa.
The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31 Mpe thawabu anayostahili, nazo kazi zake na zimletee sifa kwenye lango la mji.
Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
