Mithali 6
1 Mwanangu, kama umekuwa mdhamini wa jirani yako, ikiwa umeshika mikono kwa kuweka ahadi kwa ajili ya mwingine,
My son, if you have become collateral for your neighbor, if you have struck your hands in pledge for a stranger,
2 kama umetegwa na ulichosema, umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako,
you are trapped by the words of your mouth; you are ensnared 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, since you have come into the hand of your neighbor. Go, humble yourself. Press your plea with your neighbor.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi machoni pako, usiruhusu kope zako zisinzie.
Give no sleep to your eyes, nor slumber to your eyelids.
5 Jiweke huru, kama swala mkononi mwa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka kwenye mtego wa mwindaji.
Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare 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 chief, overseer, or ruler,
8 lakini hujiwekea akiba wakati wa kiangazi na hukusanya chakula chake wakati wa mavuno.
provides her bread 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, sluggard? When will you arise out of 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 sleep—
11 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
so your poverty will come as a robber, and your scarcity as an armed man.
12 Mtu mbaya sana na mlaghai, ambaye huzungukazunguka na maneno ya upotovu,
A worthless person, a man of iniquity, is he who walks with a perverse mouth,
13 ambaye anakonyeza kwa jicho lake, anayetoa ishara kwa miguu yake na kuashiria kwa vidole vyake,
who winks with his eyes, who signals with his feet, who motions with his fingers,
14 ambaye hupanga ubaya kwa udanganyifu moyoni mwake: daima huchochea fitina.
in whose heart is perverseness, who devises evil continually, who always sows discord.
15 Kwa hiyo maafa yatamkumba ghafula; ataangamizwa mara, pasipo msaada.
Therefore his calamity will come suddenly. He will be broken suddenly, and that without remedy.
16 Kuna vitu sita anavyovichukia Bwana, naam, viko saba vilivyo chukizo kwake:
There are six things which Yahweh hates; yes, seven which are an abomination to him:
17 macho ya kiburi, ulimi udanganyao, mikono imwagayo damu isiyo na hatia,
arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 moyo uwazao mipango miovu, miguu iliyo myepesi kukimbilia uovu,
a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are swift in running to mischief,
19 shahidi wa uongo ambaye humwaga uongo, na mtu ambaye huchochea fitina kati ya ndugu.
a false witness who utters lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
20 Mwanangu, zishike amri za baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching.
21 Yafunge katika moyo wako daima, yakaze kuizunguka shingo yako.
Bind them continually on your heart. Tie them around your neck.
22 Wakati utembeapo, yatakuongoza; wakati ulalapo, yatakulinda; wakati uamkapo, yatazungumza nawe.
When you walk, it will lead you. When you sleep, it will watch over you. When you awake, it will 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. 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 immoral woman, from the flattery of the wayward wife’s tongue.
25 Moyo wako usitamani uzuri wake wala macho yake yasikuteke,
Don’t lust after her beauty in your heart, neither let her captivate you with her eyelids.
26 kwa maana kahaba atakufanya uwe maskini, hata ukose kipande cha mkate, naye mwanamke mzinzi huwinda maisha yako hasa.
For a prostitute reduces you to a piece of bread. The adulteress hunts for your precious life.
27 Je, mtu aweza kuchotea moto kwenye paja lake bila nguo zake kuungua?
Can a man scoop fire into his lap, and his clothes not be burned?
28 Je, mtu aweza kutembea juu ya makaa ya moto yanayowaka bila miguu yake kuungua?
Or can one walk on hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa mwanaume mwingine; hakuna yeyote amgusaye huyo mwanamke ambaye hataadhibiwa.
So is he who goes in to his neighbor’s wife. Whoever touches her will not be unpunished.
30 Watu hawamdharau mwizi kama akiiba kukidhi njaa yake wakati ana njaa.
Men don’t despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry,
31 Pamoja na hayo, kama akikamatwa, lazima alipe mara saba, ingawa inamgharimu utajiri wote wa nyumba yake.
but if he is found, he shall restore seven times. He shall give all the wealth of his house.
32 Lakini mwanaume aziniye na mwanamke hana akili kabisa; yeyote afanyaye hivyo hujiangamiza mwenyewe.
He who commits adultery with a woman is void of understanding. He who does it destroys his own soul.
33 Mapigo na aibu ni fungu lake na aibu yake haitafutika kamwe;
He will get wounds and dishonor. His reproach will not be wiped away.
34 kwa maana wivu huamsha ghadhabu ya mume, naye hataonyesha huruma alipizapo kisasi.
For jealousy arouses the fury of the husband. He won’t spare in the day of vengeance.
35 Hatakubali fidia yoyote; atakataa malipo, hata yakiwa makubwa kiasi gani.
He won’t regard any ransom, neither will he rest content, though you give many gifts.
