Mithali 6
1 Mwanangu, kama umekuwa mdhamini wa jirani yako, ikiwa umeshika mikono kwa kuweka ahadi kwa ajili ya mwingine,
My son, if thou have become surety for thy neighbour, —have struck for a stranger thy hands,
2 kama umetegwa na ulichosema, umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako,
Thou hast been snared by the sayings of thy mouth, —thou hast been caught by the sayings 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 then, my son, and deliver thyself, When thou hast come into the hand of thy neighbour, Go, haste thee, and urge thy neighbour;
4 Usiruhusu usingizi machoni pako, usiruhusu kope zako zisinzie.
Do not give sleep to thine eyes, or slumber to thine eyelashes;
5 Jiweke huru, kama swala mkononi mwa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka kwenye mtego wa mwindaji.
Deliver thyself, as a gazelle out of the hand, and as a bird, out of the hand of the fowler.
6 Ewe mvivu, mwendee mchwa; zitafakari njia zake ukapate hekima!
Go to the ant, thou sluggard, observe her ways, and be wise;
7 Kwa maana yeye hana msimamizi, wala mwangalizi, au mtawala,
Which, having no harvest, scribe, or ruler,
8 lakini hujiwekea akiba wakati wa kiangazi na hukusanya chakula chake wakati wa mavuno.
Prepareth, in the summer, her food, hath collected, in the harvest, her sustenance.
9 Ewe mvivu, utalala hata lini? Utaamka lini kutoka usingizi wako?
How long, O sluggard, wilt thou lie? how long ere thou rise from 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 come in, as a highwayman, thy poverty, and, thy want, as one armed with a shield.
12 Mtu mbaya sana na mlaghai, ambaye huzungukazunguka na maneno ya upotovu,
An abandoned man, a man of iniquity, [is he] who—goeth on in perversity of mouth;
13 ambaye anakonyeza kwa jicho lake, anayetoa ishara kwa miguu yake na kuashiria kwa vidole vyake,
Winketh with his eyes, speaketh with his foot, pointeth with his fingers;
14 ambaye hupanga ubaya kwa udanganyifu moyoni mwake: daima huchochea fitina.
[Hath] perverse things in his heart, deviseth mischief on every occasion, strifes, he sendeth forth.
15 Kwa hiyo maafa yatamkumba ghafula; ataangamizwa mara, pasipo msaada.
For this cause, suddenly cometh his doom, in a moment, shall he be torn in pieces and there be no mending.
16 Kuna vitu sita anavyovichukia Bwana, naam, viko saba vilivyo chukizo kwake:
These six things, doth Yahweh hate, yea, seven, are the abomination of his soul: —
17 macho ya kiburi, ulimi udanganyao, mikono imwagayo damu isiyo na hatia,
Eyes that are lofty, a tongue that is false, and hands shedding innocent blood;
18 moyo uwazao mipango miovu, miguu iliyo myepesi kukimbilia uovu,
A heart contriving iniquitous devices, feet hasting to run into mischief;
19 shahidi wa uongo ambaye humwaga uongo, na mtu ambaye huchochea fitina kati ya ndugu.
One that uttereth lies—a false witness, and one sending forth strifes between brethren.
20 Mwanangu, zishike amri za baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
Observe thou, my son, the commandment of thy father, and do not decline from the instruction of thy mother:
21 Yafunge katika moyo wako daima, yakaze kuizunguka shingo yako.
Bind them upon thy heart continually, fasten them upon thy neck;
22 Wakati utembeapo, yatakuongoza; wakati ulalapo, yatakulinda; wakati uamkapo, yatazungumza nawe.
When thou walkest abroad, it shall guide thee, when thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee, when thou wakest, it shall speak to thee:
23 Kwa maana amri hizi ni taa, mafundisho haya ni mwanga na maonyo ya maadili ni njia ya uzima,
For, a lamp, is the commandment, and, the instruction, a light, and, the way of life, are the reproofs of correction:
24 yakikulinda na mwanamke aliyepotoka, kutokana na maneno laini ya mwanamke aliyepotoka.
To keep thee from the wicked woman, from the flattery of the tongue of her that is a stranger.
25 Moyo wako usitamani uzuri wake wala macho yake yasikuteke,
Do not covet her beauty, in thy heart, neither let her take thee, by her eyelashes;
26 kwa maana kahaba atakufanya uwe maskini, hata ukose kipande cha mkate, naye mwanamke mzinzi huwinda maisha yako hasa.
Because, for the sake of an impure woman, [a man may be brought] even to a cake of bread, —and, a man’s wife, for a precious soul, may hunt!
27 Je, mtu aweza kuchotea moto kwenye paja lake bila nguo zake kuungua?
Can a man snatch up 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?
Or can a man walk 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 goeth in unto his neighbour’s wife, no man shall be guiltless who toucheth her!
30 Watu hawamdharau mwizi kama akiiba kukidhi njaa yake wakati ana njaa.
Men despise not a thief, when he stealeth, to satisfy his appetite, because he is famished;
31 Pamoja na hayo, kama akikamatwa, lazima alipe mara saba, ingawa inamgharimu utajiri wote wa nyumba yake.
Yet, if found, he must pay back sevenfold, All the substance of his house, must he give:
32 Lakini mwanaume aziniye na mwanamke hana akili kabisa; yeyote afanyaye hivyo hujiangamiza mwenyewe.
He that committeth adultery with a woman, lacketh sense, A destroyer of his own life, is he that doeth it;
33 Mapigo na aibu ni fungu lake na aibu yake haitafutika kamwe;
Smiting and shame, shall he find, and, his reproach, shall not be wiped out;
34 kwa maana wivu huamsha ghadhabu ya mume, naye hataonyesha huruma alipizapo kisasi.
For, jealousy, is the rage of a man, nor will he spare, in the day of avenging;
35 Hatakubali fidia yoyote; atakataa malipo, hata yakiwa makubwa kiasi gani.
He will not look, at any ransom, neither will he consent, though thou increase the bribe.
