Mithali 6
1 Mwanangu, kama umekuwa mdhamini wa jirani yako, ikiwa umeshika mikono kwa kuweka ahadi kwa ajili ya mwingine,
My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, thou hast engaged fast thy hand to a stranger.
2 kama umetegwa na ulichosema, umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako,
Thou art ensnared with the words of thy mouth, and caught with thy own words.
3 basi fanya hivi mwanangu, ili ujiweke huru, kwa kuwa umeanguka mikononi mwa jirani yako: Nenda ukajinyenyekeshe kwake; msihi jirani yako!
Do therefore, my son, what I say, and deliver thyself: because thou art fallen into the hand of thy neighbour. Run about, make haste, stir up thy friend:
4 Usiruhusu usingizi machoni pako, usiruhusu kope zako zisinzie.
Give not sleep to thy eyes, neither let thy eyelids slumber.
5 Jiweke huru, kama swala mkononi mwa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka kwenye mtego wa mwindaji.
Deliver thyself as a doe from the hand, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Ewe mvivu, mwendee mchwa; zitafakari njia zake ukapate hekima!
Go to the ant, O sluggard, and consider her ways, and learn wisdom:
7 Kwa maana yeye hana msimamizi, wala mwangalizi, au mtawala,
Which, although she hath no guide, nor master, nor captain,
8 lakini hujiwekea akiba wakati wa kiangazi na hukusanya chakula chake wakati wa mavuno.
Provideth her meat for herself in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 Ewe mvivu, utalala hata lini? Utaamka lini kutoka usingizi wako?
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou rise out of thy sleep?
10 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
Thou wilt sleep a little, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to sleep:
11 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
And want shall come upon thee, as a traveller, and poverty as a man armed. But if thou be diligent, thy harvest shall come as a fountain, and want shall flee far from thee.
12 Mtu mbaya sana na mlaghai, ambaye huzungukazunguka na maneno ya upotovu,
A man that is an apostate, an unprofitable man, walketh with a perverse mouth,
13 ambaye anakonyeza kwa jicho lake, anayetoa ishara kwa miguu yake na kuashiria kwa vidole vyake,
He winketh with the eyes, presseth with the foot, speaketh with the finger.
14 ambaye hupanga ubaya kwa udanganyifu moyoni mwake: daima huchochea fitina.
With a wicked heart he deviseth evil, and at all times he soweth discord.
15 Kwa hiyo maafa yatamkumba ghafula; ataangamizwa mara, pasipo msaada.
To such a one his destruction shall presently come, and he shall suddenly be destroyed, and shall no longer have any remedy.
16 Kuna vitu sita anavyovichukia Bwana, naam, viko saba vilivyo chukizo kwake:
Six things there are, which the Lord hateth, and the seventh his soul detesteth:
17 macho ya kiburi, ulimi udanganyao, mikono imwagayo damu isiyo na hatia,
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 moyo uwazao mipango miovu, miguu iliyo myepesi kukimbilia uovu,
A heart that deviseth wicked plots, feet that are swift to run into mischief,
19 shahidi wa uongo ambaye humwaga uongo, na mtu ambaye huchochea fitina kati ya ndugu.
A deceitful witness that uttereth lies, and him that soweth discord among brethren.
20 Mwanangu, zishike amri za baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, beep the commandments of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
21 Yafunge katika moyo wako daima, yakaze kuizunguka shingo yako.
Bind them in thy heart continually, and put them about thy neck.
22 Wakati utembeapo, yatakuongoza; wakati ulalapo, yatakulinda; wakati uamkapo, yatazungumza nawe.
When thou walkest, let them go with thee: when thou sleepest, let them keep thee; and when thou awakest, talk with them.
23 Kwa maana amri hizi ni taa, mafundisho haya ni mwanga na maonyo ya maadili ni njia ya uzima,
Because the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24 yakikulinda na mwanamke aliyepotoka, kutokana na maneno laini ya mwanamke aliyepotoka.
That they may keep thee from the evil woman, and from the flattering tongue of the stranger.
25 Moyo wako usitamani uzuri wake wala macho yake yasikuteke,
Let not thy heart covet her beauty, be not caught with her winks:
26 kwa maana kahaba atakufanya uwe maskini, hata ukose kipande cha mkate, naye mwanamke mzinzi huwinda maisha yako hasa.
For the price of a harlot is scarce one loaf: but the woman catcheth the precious soul of a man.
27 Je, mtu aweza kuchotea moto kwenye paja lake bila nguo zake kuungua?
Can a man hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn?
28 Je, mtu aweza kutembea juu ya makaa ya moto yanayowaka bila miguu yake kuungua?
Or can he walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be burnt?
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, shall not be clean when he shall touch her.
30 Watu hawamdharau mwizi kama akiiba kukidhi njaa yake wakati ana njaa.
The fault is not so great when a man hath stolen: for he stealeth to fill his hungry soul:
31 Pamoja na hayo, kama akikamatwa, lazima alipe mara saba, ingawa inamgharimu utajiri wote wa nyumba yake.
And if he be taken he shall restore sevenfold, and shall give up all the substance of his house.
32 Lakini mwanaume aziniye na mwanamke hana akili kabisa; yeyote afanyaye hivyo hujiangamiza mwenyewe.
But he that is an adulterer, for the folly of his heart shall destroy his own soul:
33 Mapigo na aibu ni fungu lake na aibu yake haitafutika kamwe;
He gathereth to himself shame and dishonour, and his reproach shall not be blotted out:
34 kwa maana wivu huamsha ghadhabu ya mume, naye hataonyesha huruma alipizapo kisasi.
Because the jealousy and rage of the husband will not spare in the day of revenge,
35 Hatakubali fidia yoyote; atakataa malipo, hata yakiwa makubwa kiasi gani.
Nor will he yield to any man’s prayers, nor will he accept for satisfaction ever so many gifts.
