Mithali 6
1 Mwanangu, kama umekuwa mdhamini wa jirani yako, ikiwa umeshika mikono kwa kuweka ahadi kwa ajili ya mwingine,
My son, if thou hast become surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand for a stranger,
2 kama umetegwa na ulichosema, umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako,
thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
3 basi fanya hivi mwanangu, ili ujiweke huru, kwa kuwa umeanguka mikononi mwa jirani yako: Nenda ukajinyenyekeshe kwake; msihi jirani yako!
Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, since thou hast come into the hand of thy friend: go, humble thyself, and be urgent with thy friend.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi machoni pako, usiruhusu kope zako zisinzie.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids:
5 Jiweke huru, kama swala mkononi mwa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka kwenye mtego wa mwindaji.
deliver thyself as a gazelle from the hand [of the hunter], and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Ewe mvivu, mwendee mchwa; zitafakari njia zake ukapate hekima!
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise:
7 Kwa maana yeye hana msimamizi, wala mwangalizi, au mtawala,
which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
8 lakini hujiwekea akiba wakati wa kiangazi na hukusanya chakula chake wakati wa mavuno.
provideth her bread in the summer, [and] gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 Ewe mvivu, utalala hata lini? Utaamka lini kutoka usingizi wako?
How long, sluggard, wilt thou lie down? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest!
11 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
So shall thy poverty come as a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.
12 Mtu mbaya sana na mlaghai, ambaye huzungukazunguka na maneno ya upotovu,
A man of Belial, a wicked person, is he that goeth about with a perverse mouth;
13 ambaye anakonyeza kwa jicho lake, anayetoa ishara kwa miguu yake na kuashiria kwa vidole vyake,
he winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
14 ambaye hupanga ubaya kwa udanganyifu moyoni mwake: daima huchochea fitina.
deceits are in his heart; he deviseth mischief at all times, he soweth discords.
15 Kwa hiyo maafa yatamkumba ghafula; ataangamizwa mara, pasipo msaada.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly: in a moment shall he be broken, and without remedy.
16 Kuna vitu sita anavyovichukia Bwana, naam, viko saba vilivyo chukizo kwake:
These six [things] doth Jehovah hate, yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 macho ya kiburi, ulimi udanganyao, mikono imwagayo damu isiyo na hatia,
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;
18 moyo uwazao mipango miovu, miguu iliyo myepesi kukimbilia uovu,
a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations; feet that are swift in running to mischief;
19 shahidi wa uongo ambaye humwaga uongo, na mtu ambaye huchochea fitina kati ya ndugu.
a false witness that uttereth lies, and he that soweth discords among brethren.
20 Mwanangu, zishike amri za baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, observe thy father's commandment, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;
21 Yafunge katika moyo wako daima, yakaze kuizunguka shingo yako.
bind them continually upon thy heart, tie them about thy neck:
22 Wakati utembeapo, yatakuongoza; wakati ulalapo, yatakulinda; wakati uamkapo, yatazungumza nawe.
when thou walkest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and [when] thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 Kwa maana amri hizi ni taa, mafundisho haya ni mwanga na maonyo ya maadili ni njia ya uzima,
For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching a light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24 yakikulinda na mwanamke aliyepotoka, kutokana na maneno laini ya mwanamke aliyepotoka.
to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
25 Moyo wako usitamani uzuri wake wala macho yake yasikuteke,
Lust not after her beauty in thy heart, neither let her take thee with her eyelids;
26 kwa maana kahaba atakufanya uwe maskini, hata ukose kipande cha mkate, naye mwanamke mzinzi huwinda maisha yako hasa.
for by means of a whorish woman [a man is brought] to a loaf of bread, and another's wife doth hunt for the precious soul.
27 Je, mtu aweza kuchotea moto kwenye paja lake bila nguo zake kuungua?
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his garments not be burned?
28 Je, mtu aweza kutembea juu ya makaa ya moto yanayowaka bila miguu yake kuungua?
Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa mwanaume mwingine; hakuna yeyote amgusaye huyo mwanamke ambaye hataadhibiwa.
So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife: whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
30 Watu hawamdharau mwizi kama akiiba kukidhi njaa yake wakati ana njaa.
They do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry:
31 Pamoja na hayo, kama akikamatwa, lazima alipe mara saba, ingawa inamgharimu utajiri wote wa nyumba yake.
and if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
32 Lakini mwanaume aziniye na mwanamke hana akili kabisa; yeyote afanyaye hivyo hujiangamiza mwenyewe.
Whoso committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
33 Mapigo na aibu ni fungu lake na aibu yake haitafutika kamwe;
A wound and contempt shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34 kwa maana wivu huamsha ghadhabu ya mume, naye hataonyesha huruma alipizapo kisasi.
For jealousy is the rage of a man, and he will not spare in the day of vengeance;
35 Hatakubali fidia yoyote; atakataa malipo, hata yakiwa makubwa kiasi gani.
he will not regard any ransom, neither will he rest content though thou multipliest [thy] gifts.
