Mithali 6
1 Mwanangu, kama umekuwa mdhamini wa jirani yako, ikiwa umeshika mikono kwa kuweka ahadi kwa ajili ya mwingine,
[My] son, if thou become surety for thy friend, thou shalt deliver thine hand to an enemy.
2 kama umetegwa na ulichosema, umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako,
For a man's own lips become a strong snare to him, and he is caught with the lips of his own mouth.
3 basi fanya hivi mwanangu, ili ujiweke huru, kwa kuwa umeanguka mikononi mwa jirani yako: Nenda ukajinyenyekeshe kwake; msihi jirani yako!
[My] son, do what I command thee, and deliver thyself; for on thy friend's account thou art come into the power of evil [men]: faint not, but stir up even thy friend for whom thou art become surety.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi machoni pako, usiruhusu kope zako zisinzie.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber with thine eyelids;
5 Jiweke huru, kama swala mkononi mwa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka kwenye mtego wa mwindaji.
that thou mayest deliver thyself as a doe out of the toils, and as a bird out of a snare.
6 Ewe mvivu, mwendee mchwa; zitafakari njia zake ukapate hekima!
Go to the ant, O sluggard; and see, and emulate his ways, and become wiser than he.
7 Kwa maana yeye hana msimamizi, wala mwangalizi, au mtawala,
For whereas he has no husbandry, nor any one to compel him, and is under no master,
8 lakini hujiwekea akiba wakati wa kiangazi na hukusanya chakula chake wakati wa mavuno.
he prepares food for himself in the summer, and lays by abundant store in harvest. Or go to the bee, and learn how diligent she is, and how earnestly she is engaged in her work; whose labours kings and private men use for health, and she is desired and respected by all: though weak in body, she is advanced by honouring wisdom.
9 Ewe mvivu, utalala hata lini? Utaamka lini kutoka usingizi wako?
How long wilt thou lie, O sluggard? and when wilt thou awake out of sleep?
10 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
Thou sleepest a little, and thou restest a little, and thou slumberest a short [time], and thou foldest thine arms over thy breast a little.
11 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
Then poverty comes upon thee as an evil traveller, and want as a swift courier: but if thou be diligent, thine harvest shall arrive as a fountain, and poverty shall flee away as a bad courier.
12 Mtu mbaya sana na mlaghai, ambaye huzungukazunguka na maneno ya upotovu,
A foolish man and a transgressor goes in ways that are not good.
13 ambaye anakonyeza kwa jicho lake, anayetoa ishara kwa miguu yake na kuashiria kwa vidole vyake,
And the same winks with the eye, and makes a sign with his foot, and teaches with the beckonings of his fingers.
14 ambaye hupanga ubaya kwa udanganyifu moyoni mwake: daima huchochea fitina.
[His] perverse heart devises evils: at all times such a one causes troubles to a city.
15 Kwa hiyo maafa yatamkumba ghafula; ataangamizwa mara, pasipo msaada.
Therefore his destruction shall come suddenly; overthrow and irretrievable ruin.
16 Kuna vitu sita anavyovichukia Bwana, naam, viko saba vilivyo chukizo kwake:
For he rejoices in all things which God hates, and he is ruined by reason of impurity of soul.
17 macho ya kiburi, ulimi udanganyao, mikono imwagayo damu isiyo na hatia,
The eye of the haughty, a tongue unjust, hands shedding the blood of the just;
18 moyo uwazao mipango miovu, miguu iliyo myepesi kukimbilia uovu,
and a heart devising evil thoughts, and feet hastening to do evil, —[are hateful to God].
19 shahidi wa uongo ambaye humwaga uongo, na mtu ambaye huchochea fitina kati ya ndugu.
An unjust witness kindles falsehoods, and brings on quarrels between brethren.
20 Mwanangu, zishike amri za baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
[My] son, keep the laws of thy father, and reject not the ordinances of thy mother:
21 Yafunge katika moyo wako daima, yakaze kuizunguka shingo yako.
but bind them upon thy soul continually, and hang them as a chain about thy neck.
22 Wakati utembeapo, yatakuongoza; wakati ulalapo, yatakulinda; wakati uamkapo, yatazungumza nawe.
Whensoever thou walkest, lead this along and let it be with thee; that it may talk with thee when thou wakest.
23 Kwa maana amri hizi ni taa, mafundisho haya ni mwanga na maonyo ya maadili ni njia ya uzima,
For the commandment of the law is a lamp and a light; a way of life; reproof also and correction:
24 yakikulinda na mwanamke aliyepotoka, kutokana na maneno laini ya mwanamke aliyepotoka.
to keep thee continually from a married woman, and from the calumny of a strange tongue.
25 Moyo wako usitamani uzuri wake wala macho yake yasikuteke,
Let not the desire of beauty overcome thee, neither be thou caught by thine eyes, neither be captivated with her eyelids.
26 kwa maana kahaba atakufanya uwe maskini, hata ukose kipande cha mkate, naye mwanamke mzinzi huwinda maisha yako hasa.
For the value of a harlot is as much as of one loaf; and a woman hunts for the precious souls of men.
27 Je, mtu aweza kuchotea moto kwenye paja lake bila nguo zake kuungua?
Shall any one bind fire in his bosom, and not burn his garments?
28 Je, mtu aweza kutembea juu ya makaa ya moto yanayowaka bila miguu yake kuungua?
or will any one walk on coals of fire, and not burn his feet?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa mwanaume mwingine; hakuna yeyote amgusaye huyo mwanamke ambaye hataadhibiwa.
So is he that goes in to a married woman; he shall not be held guiltless, neither any one that touches her.
30 Watu hawamdharau mwizi kama akiiba kukidhi njaa yake wakati ana njaa.
It is not to be wondered at if one should be taken stealing, for he steals that when hungry he may satisfy his soul:
31 Pamoja na hayo, kama akikamatwa, lazima alipe mara saba, ingawa inamgharimu utajiri wote wa nyumba yake.
but if he should be taken, he shall repay sevenfold, and shall deliver himself by giving all his goods.
32 Lakini mwanaume aziniye na mwanamke hana akili kabisa; yeyote afanyaye hivyo hujiangamiza mwenyewe.
But the adulterer through want of sense procures destruction to his soul.
33 Mapigo na aibu ni fungu lake na aibu yake haitafutika kamwe;
He endures both pain and disgrace, and his reproach shall never be wiped off.
34 kwa maana wivu huamsha ghadhabu ya mume, naye hataonyesha huruma alipizapo kisasi.
For the soul of her husband is full of jealousy: he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 Hatakubali fidia yoyote; atakataa malipo, hata yakiwa makubwa kiasi gani.
He will not forego [his] enmity for any ransom: neither will he be reconciled for many gifts.
