Mithali 6
1 Mwanangu, kama umekuwa mdhamini wa jirani yako, ikiwa umeshika mikono kwa kuweka ahadi kwa ajili ya mwingine,
My son, if you set aside your money as a guarantee for your neighbor's loan, if you gave your promise for a loan of someone you do not know,
2 kama umetegwa na ulichosema, umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako,
then you have laid a trap for yourself by your promise and you have been caught by 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!
When you are caught by your words, my son, do this and save yourself, since you have fallen into the hand of your neighbor; go and humble yourself and make your case before your neighbor.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi machoni pako, usiruhusu kope zako zisinzie.
Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber.
5 Jiweke huru, kama swala mkononi mwa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka kwenye mtego wa mwindaji.
Save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Ewe mvivu, mwendee mchwa; zitafakari njia zake ukapate hekima!
Look at the ant, you lazy person, consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Kwa maana yeye hana msimamizi, wala mwangalizi, au mtawala,
It has no commander, officer, or ruler,
8 lakini hujiwekea akiba wakati wa kiangazi na hukusanya chakula chake wakati wa mavuno.
yet it prepares its food in the summer and during the harvest it stores up what it will eat.
9 Ewe mvivu, utalala hata lini? Utaamka lini kutoka usingizi wako?
How long will you sleep, you lazy person? When will you rise from your 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.
and your poverty will come like a robber and your needs like an armed soldier.
12 Mtu mbaya sana na mlaghai, ambaye huzungukazunguka na maneno ya upotovu,
A worthless person—a wicked man— lives by the crookedness of his speech,
13 ambaye anakonyeza kwa jicho lake, anayetoa ishara kwa miguu yake na kuashiria kwa vidole vyake,
winking his eyes, making signals with his feet and pointing with his fingers.
14 ambaye hupanga ubaya kwa udanganyifu moyoni mwake: daima huchochea fitina.
He plots evil with deceit in his heart; he always stirs up discord.
15 Kwa hiyo maafa yatamkumba ghafula; ataangamizwa mara, pasipo msaada.
Therefore his disaster will overtake him in an instant; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.
16 Kuna vitu sita anavyovichukia Bwana, naam, viko saba vilivyo chukizo kwake:
There are six things that Yahweh hates, seven that are disgusting to him.
17 macho ya kiburi, ulimi udanganyao, mikono imwagayo damu isiyo na hatia,
The eyes of a proud person, a tongue that lies, hands that shed the blood of innocent people,
18 moyo uwazao mipango miovu, miguu iliyo myepesi kukimbilia uovu,
a heart that invents wicked schemes, feet that quickly run to do evil,
19 shahidi wa uongo ambaye humwaga uongo, na mtu ambaye huchochea fitina kati ya ndugu.
a witness who breathes out lies and one who sows discord among brothers.
20 Mwanangu, zishike amri za baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, obey the command of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
21 Yafunge katika moyo wako daima, yakaze kuizunguka shingo yako.
Always bind them on your heart; tie them about your neck.
22 Wakati utembeapo, yatakuongoza; wakati ulalapo, yatakulinda; wakati uamkapo, yatazungumza nawe.
When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you wake up, they will teach you.
23 Kwa maana amri hizi ni taa, mafundisho haya ni mwanga na maonyo ya maadili ni njia ya uzima,
For the commands are a lamp, and the teaching is a light; the corrections that come by instruction are the way of life.
24 yakikulinda na mwanamke aliyepotoka, kutokana na maneno laini ya mwanamke aliyepotoka.
It keeps you from the immoral woman, from the smooth words of an immoral woman.
25 Moyo wako usitamani uzuri wake wala macho yake yasikuteke,
Do not lust in your heart after her beauty and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes.
26 kwa maana kahaba atakufanya uwe maskini, hata ukose kipande cha mkate, naye mwanamke mzinzi huwinda maisha yako hasa.
Sleeping with a prostitute can cost the price of a loaf of bread, but the wife of another may cost you your very life.
27 Je, mtu aweza kuchotea moto kwenye paja lake bila nguo zake kuungua?
Can a man carry a fire against his chest without burning his clothes?
28 Je, mtu aweza kutembea juu ya makaa ya moto yanayowaka bila miguu yake kuungua?
Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa mwanaume mwingine; hakuna yeyote amgusaye huyo mwanamke ambaye hataadhibiwa.
So is the man who sleeps with his neighbor's wife; the one who sleeps with her will not go unpunished.
30 Watu hawamdharau mwizi kama akiiba kukidhi njaa yake wakati ana njaa.
People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his need when he is hungry.
31 Pamoja na hayo, kama akikamatwa, lazima alipe mara saba, ingawa inamgharimu utajiri wote wa nyumba yake.
Yet if he is caught, he will pay back seven times what he stole; he must give up everything of value in his house.
32 Lakini mwanaume aziniye na mwanamke hana akili kabisa; yeyote afanyaye hivyo hujiangamiza mwenyewe.
The one who commits adultery has no sense; the one who does it destroys himself.
33 Mapigo na aibu ni fungu lake na aibu yake haitafutika kamwe;
Wounds and shame are what he deserves and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 kwa maana wivu huamsha ghadhabu ya mume, naye hataonyesha huruma alipizapo kisasi.
For jealousy makes a man furious; he will show no mercy when he takes his revenge.
35 Hatakubali fidia yoyote; atakataa malipo, hata yakiwa makubwa kiasi gani.
He will accept no compensation and he cannot be bought off, though you offer him many gifts.
