Mithali 6
1 Mwanangu, kama umekuwa mdhamini wa jirani yako, ikiwa umeshika mikono kwa kuweka ahadi kwa ajili ya mwingine,
My son, if you be guarantor for your friend, if you have stricken your hand with a stranger,
2 kama umetegwa na ulichosema, umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako,
You are snared with the words of your mouth, you are taken with the words of your 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 yourself, when you are come into the hand of your friend; go, humble yourself, and make sure your friend.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi machoni pako, usiruhusu kope zako zisinzie.
Give not sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.
5 Jiweke huru, kama swala mkononi mwa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka kwenye mtego wa mwindaji.
Deliver yourself as a roe 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, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Kwa maana yeye hana msimamizi, wala mwangalizi, au mtawala,
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 lakini hujiwekea akiba wakati wa kiangazi na hukusanya chakula chake wakati wa mavuno.
Provides her food in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest.
9 Ewe mvivu, utalala hata lini? Utaamka lini kutoka usingizi wako?
How long will you sleep, O sluggard? when will you arise out of your sleep?
10 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
So shall your poverty come as one that travels, and your lack as an armed man.
12 Mtu mbaya sana na mlaghai, ambaye huzungukazunguka na maneno ya upotovu,
A naughty person, a wicked man, walks with a perverse mouth.
13 ambaye anakonyeza kwa jicho lake, anayetoa ishara kwa miguu yake na kuashiria kwa vidole vyake,
He winks with his eyes, he speaks with his feet, he teaches with his fingers;
14 ambaye hupanga ubaya kwa udanganyifu moyoni mwake: daima huchochea fitina.
Perverseness is in his heart, he devises mischief continually; he sows discord.
15 Kwa hiyo maafa yatamkumba ghafula; ataangamizwa mara, pasipo msaada.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
16 Kuna vitu sita anavyovichukia Bwana, naam, viko saba vilivyo chukizo kwake:
These six things does the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 macho ya kiburi, ulimi udanganyao, mikono imwagayo damu isiyo na hatia,
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 moyo uwazao mipango miovu, miguu iliyo myepesi kukimbilia uovu,
An heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 shahidi wa uongo ambaye humwaga uongo, na mtu ambaye huchochea fitina kati ya ndugu.
A false witness that speaks lies, and he that sows discord among brethren.
20 Mwanangu, zishike amri za baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not the law of your mother:
21 Yafunge katika moyo wako daima, yakaze kuizunguka shingo yako.
Bind them continually upon your heart, and tie them about your neck.
22 Wakati utembeapo, yatakuongoza; wakati ulalapo, yatakulinda; wakati uamkapo, yatazungumza nawe.
When you go, it shall lead you; when you sleep, it shall keep you; and when you awake, it shall talk with you.
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 law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24 yakikulinda na mwanamke aliyepotoka, kutokana na maneno laini ya mwanamke aliyepotoka.
To keep you 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 your heart; neither let her take you 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 piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.
27 Je, mtu aweza kuchotea moto kwenye paja lake bila nguo zake kuungua?
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes 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 burned?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa mwanaume mwingine; hakuna yeyote amgusaye huyo mwanamke ambaye hataadhibiwa.
So he that goes in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever touches her shall not be innocent.
30 Watu hawamdharau mwizi kama akiiba kukidhi njaa yake wakati ana njaa.
Men 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.
But 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.
But whoso commits adultery with a woman lacks understanding: he that does it destroys his own soul.
33 Mapigo na aibu ni fungu lake na aibu yake haitafutika kamwe;
A wound and dishonour 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: therefore 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 you give many gifts.
