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 struck thy hand for a stranger;
2 kama umetegwa na ulichosema, umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako,
If thou art ensnared through the words of thy mouth, if thou art caught through 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!
[Then] do this by all means, my son, and deliver thyself, because thou art come into the power of thy friend, Go hasten to him, and urge thy friend.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi machoni pako, usiruhusu kope zako zisinzie.
Grant not any sleep to thy eyes, nor slumber to thy eyelids.
5 Jiweke huru, kama swala mkononi mwa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka kwenye mtego wa mwindaji.
Deliver thyself as a roebuck 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; look on her ways, and become wise.
7 Kwa maana yeye hana msimamizi, wala mwangalizi, au mtawala,
She, that hath no prince, officer, or ruler,
8 lakini hujiwekea akiba wakati wa kiangazi na hukusanya chakula chake wakati wa mavuno.
Provideth in the summer her provision, gathereth in harvest-time her food.
9 Ewe mvivu, utalala hata lini? Utaamka lini kutoka usingizi wako?
How long, O 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 [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
11 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover, and thy want as a man armed with a shield.
12 Mtu mbaya sana na mlaghai, ambaye huzungukazunguka na maneno ya upotovu,
A Godless person is a man of injustice, who walketh with a distorted mouth.
13 ambaye anakonyeza kwa jicho lake, anayetoa ishara kwa miguu yake na kuashiria kwa vidole vyake,
He blinketh with his eyes, he scrapeth with his feet, he pointeth with his fingers;
14 ambaye hupanga ubaya kwa udanganyifu moyoni mwake: daima huchochea fitina.
Perverseness is in his heart, he contriveth evil at all times; he scattereth abroad discord.
15 Kwa hiyo maafa yatamkumba ghafula; ataangamizwa mara, pasipo msaada.
Therefore shall suddenly come his calamity: unawares shalt he be broken without a remedy.
16 Kuna vitu sita anavyovichukia Bwana, naam, viko saba vilivyo chukizo kwake:
Six things there are which the Lord hateth; and seven are an abomination unto his spirit:
17 macho ya kiburi, ulimi udanganyao, mikono imwagayo damu isiyo na hatia,
Haughty eyes, a tongue of falsehood, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 moyo uwazao mipango miovu, miguu iliyo myepesi kukimbilia uovu,
A heart that contriveth plans of injustice, feet that hasten to run after evil,
19 shahidi wa uongo ambaye humwaga uongo, na mtu ambaye huchochea fitina kati ya ndugu.
A false witness that eagerly uttereth lies, and him that scattereth abroad discord among brethren.
20 Mwanangu, zishike amri za baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
Keep, O my son, the commandment of thy father, and reject not the teaching of thy mother:
21 Yafunge katika moyo wako daima, yakaze kuizunguka shingo yako.
Bind them upon thy heart continually, tie them about thy throat.
22 Wakati utembeapo, yatakuongoza; wakati ulalapo, yatakulinda; wakati uamkapo, yatazungumza nawe.
When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; when thou liest down, it shall watch over thee; and when thou art awake, it shall converse 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 law is light; and the way of life are the admonitions of correction:
24 yakikulinda na mwanamke aliyepotoka, kutokana na maneno laini ya mwanamke aliyepotoka.
To guard thee against a bad woman, from the flattery of an alien tongue.
25 Moyo wako usitamani uzuri wake wala macho yake yasikuteke,
Covet not her beauty in thy heart, and let her not conquer 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 harlot [one is brought down] to the last loaf of bread: and an adulterous woman will even hunt for the precious life,
27 Je, mtu aweza kuchotea moto kwenye paja lake bila nguo zake kuungua?
Can a man gather up fire in his lap, and shall his clothes not be burnt?
28 Je, mtu aweza kutembea juu ya makaa ya moto yanayowaka bila miguu yake kuungua?
Can a man walk along upon hot coals, and shall his feet not be burnt?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa mwanaume mwingine; hakuna yeyote amgusaye huyo mwanamke ambaye hataadhibiwa.
So it is with him that goeth in to his neighbor's wife: no one that toucheth her shall remain unpunished.
30 Watu hawamdharau mwizi kama akiiba kukidhi njaa yake wakati ana njaa.
Men do not despise the thief, if he steal, to gratify his craving 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 must pay sevenfold; all the wealth his house must he give.
32 Lakini mwanaume aziniye na mwanamke hana akili kabisa; yeyote afanyaye hivyo hujiangamiza mwenyewe.
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh sense: he that is the destroyer of his soul, will alone do this.
33 Mapigo na aibu ni fungu lake na aibu yake haitafutika kamwe;
Plague and disgrace will he meet with; and his reproach will not be blotted out.
34 kwa maana wivu huamsha ghadhabu ya mume, naye hataonyesha huruma alipizapo kisasi.
For jealousy is the fury of a husband, and he will not spare on the day of vengeance.
35 Hatakubali fidia yoyote; atakataa malipo, hata yakiwa makubwa kiasi gani.
He will not regard the appearance of any ransom; and he will not be content, though thou give ever so many bribes.
