Mithali 6
1 Mwanangu, kama umekuwa mdhamini wa jirani yako, ikiwa umeshika mikono kwa kuweka ahadi kwa ajili ya mwingine,
My son, if you have made yourself responsible for your neighbour, or given your word for another,
2 kama umetegwa na ulichosema, umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako,
You are taken as in a net by the words of your mouth, the sayings of your lips have overcome you.
3 basi fanya hivi mwanangu, ili ujiweke huru, kwa kuwa umeanguka mikononi mwa jirani yako: Nenda ukajinyenyekeshe kwake; msihi jirani yako!
Do this, my son, and make yourself free, because you have come into the power of your neighbour; go without waiting, and make a strong request to your neighbour.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi machoni pako, usiruhusu kope zako zisinzie.
Give no sleep to your eyes, or rest to them;
5 Jiweke huru, kama swala mkononi mwa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka kwenye mtego wa mwindaji.
Make yourself free, like the roe from the hand of the archer, and the bird from him who puts a net for her.
6 Ewe mvivu, mwendee mchwa; zitafakari njia zake ukapate hekima!
Go to the ant, you hater of work; give thought to her ways and be wise:
7 Kwa maana yeye hana msimamizi, wala mwangalizi, au mtawala,
Having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
8 lakini hujiwekea akiba wakati wa kiangazi na hukusanya chakula chake wakati wa mavuno.
She gets her meat in the summer, storing up food at the time of the grain-cutting.
9 Ewe mvivu, utalala hata lini? Utaamka lini kutoka usingizi wako?
How long will you be sleeping, O hater of work? when will you get up from your sleep?
10 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep:
11 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
Then loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man
12 Mtu mbaya sana na mlaghai, ambaye huzungukazunguka na maneno ya upotovu,
A good-for-nothing man is an evil-doer; he goes on his way causing trouble with false words;
13 ambaye anakonyeza kwa jicho lake, anayetoa ishara kwa miguu yake na kuashiria kwa vidole vyake,
Making signs with his eyes, rubbing with his feet, and giving news with his fingers;
14 ambaye hupanga ubaya kwa udanganyifu moyoni mwake: daima huchochea fitina.
His mind is ever designing evil: he lets loose violent acts.
15 Kwa hiyo maafa yatamkumba ghafula; ataangamizwa mara, pasipo msaada.
For this cause his downfall will be sudden; quickly he will be broken, and there will be no help for him.
16 Kuna vitu sita anavyovichukia Bwana, naam, viko saba vilivyo chukizo kwake:
Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are disgusting to him:
17 macho ya kiburi, ulimi udanganyao, mikono imwagayo damu isiyo na hatia,
Eyes of pride, a false tongue, hands which take life without cause;
18 moyo uwazao mipango miovu, miguu iliyo myepesi kukimbilia uovu,
A heart full of evil designs, feet which are quick in running after sin;
19 shahidi wa uongo ambaye humwaga uongo, na mtu ambaye huchochea fitina kati ya ndugu.
A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one who lets loose violent acts among brothers.
20 Mwanangu, zishike amri za baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, keep the rule of your father, and have in memory the teaching of your mother:
21 Yafunge katika moyo wako daima, yakaze kuizunguka shingo yako.
Keep them ever folded in your heart, and have them hanging round your neck.
22 Wakati utembeapo, yatakuongoza; wakati ulalapo, yatakulinda; wakati uamkapo, yatazungumza nawe.
In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are sleeping, it will keep watch over you; when you are awake, it will have talk with you.
23 Kwa maana amri hizi ni taa, mafundisho haya ni mwanga na maonyo ya maadili ni njia ya uzima,
For the rule is a light, and the teaching a shining light; and the guiding words of training are the way of life.
24 yakikulinda na mwanamke aliyepotoka, kutokana na maneno laini ya mwanamke aliyepotoka.
They will keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the strange woman.
25 Moyo wako usitamani uzuri wake wala macho yake yasikuteke,
Let not your heart's desire go after her fair body; let not her eyes take you prisoner.
26 kwa maana kahaba atakufanya uwe maskini, hata ukose kipande cha mkate, naye mwanamke mzinzi huwinda maisha yako hasa.
For a loose woman is looking for a cake of bread, but another man's wife goes after one's very life.
27 Je, mtu aweza kuchotea moto kwenye paja lake bila nguo zake kuungua?
May a man take fire to his breast without burning his clothing?
28 Je, mtu aweza kutembea juu ya makaa ya moto yanayowaka bila miguu yake kuungua?
Or may one go on lighted coals, and his feet not be burned?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa mwanaume mwingine; hakuna yeyote amgusaye huyo mwanamke ambaye hataadhibiwa.
So it is with him who goes in to his neighbour's wife; he who has anything to do with her will not go free from punishment.
30 Watu hawamdharau mwizi kama akiiba kukidhi njaa yake wakati ana njaa.
Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in need of it:
31 Pamoja na hayo, kama akikamatwa, lazima alipe mara saba, ingawa inamgharimu utajiri wote wa nyumba yake.
But if he is taken in the act he will have to give back seven times as much, giving up all his property which is in his house.
32 Lakini mwanaume aziniye na mwanamke hana akili kabisa; yeyote afanyaye hivyo hujiangamiza mwenyewe.
He who takes another man's wife is without all sense: he who does it is the cause of destruction to his soul.
33 Mapigo na aibu ni fungu lake na aibu yake haitafutika kamwe;
Wounds will be his and loss of honour, and his shame may not be washed away.
34 kwa maana wivu huamsha ghadhabu ya mume, naye hataonyesha huruma alipizapo kisasi.
For bitter is the wrath of an angry husband; in the day of punishment he will have no mercy.
35 Hatakubali fidia yoyote; atakataa malipo, hata yakiwa makubwa kiasi gani.
He will not take any payment; and he will not make peace with you though your money offerings are increased.
