Mithali 8
1 Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 kando ya malango yaelekeayo mjini, kwenye maingilio, hulia kwa sauti kubwa, akisema:
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she cries aloud:
4 “Ni ninyi wanaume, ninaowaita; ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wanadamu wote.
To you, O men, I call. And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Ninyi ambao ni wajinga, pateni akili; ninyi mlio wapumbavu, pateni ufahamu.
O ye simple, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
6 Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 Kinywa changu husema lililo kweli, kwa maana midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
For my mouth shall utter truth. And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 Maneno yote ya kinywa changu ni haki; hakuna mojawapo lililopotoka wala ukaidi.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
They are all plain to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Chagua mafundisho yangu badala ya fedha, maarifa badala ya dhahabu safi,
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 kwa maana hekima ina thamani kuliko marijani na hakuna chochote unachohitaji kinacholingana naye.
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 “Mimi hekima, nakaa pamoja na busara; ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling, and find out knowledge and discretion.
13 Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; ninachukia kiburi na majivuno, tabia mbaya na mazungumzo potovu.
The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil. Pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.
14 Ushauri na hukumu sahihi ni vyangu; nina ufahamu na nina nguvu.
Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge. I am understanding, I have might.
15 Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.
16 kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
By me rulers rule, and ranking men, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently shall find me.
18 Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
Riches and honor are with me, durable wealth and righteousness.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu safi; kile nitoacho hupita fedha iliyo bora.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver.
20 Natembea katika njia ya unyofu katika mapito ya haki,
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice,
21 nawapa utajiri wale wanipendao na kuzijaza hazina zao.
that I may cause those who love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 “Bwana aliniumba mwanzoni mwa kazi yake, kabla ya matendo yake ya zamani;
Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 niliteuliwa tangu milele, tangu mwanzoni, kabla ya dunia kuumbwa.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth was,
24 Wakati hazijakuwepo bahari, nilikwishazaliwa, wakati hazijakuwepo chemchemi zilizojaa maji;
when there were no depths. I was brought forth when there were no fountains abounding with water,
25 kabla milima haijawekwa mahali pake, kabla vilima havijakuwepo, nilikwishazaliwa,
before the mountains were settled, before the hills. I was brought forth
26 kabla hajaumba dunia wala mashamba yake au vumbi lolote la dunia.
while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziweka mbingu mahali pake, wakati alichora mstari wa upeo wa macho juu ya uso wa kilindi,
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
when he made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep became strong,
29 wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
when he gave to the sea its bound that the waters should not transgress his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 Wakati huo nilikuwa fundi stadi kando yake. Nilijazwa na furaha siku baada ya siku, nikifurahi daima mbele zake,
then I was by him, a master workman. And I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him,
31 nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
rejoicing in his habitable earth. And my delight was with the sons of men.
32 “Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
Now therefore, ye sons, hearken to me. For blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Sikilizeni mafundisho yangu mwe na hekima; msiyapuuze.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not refuse it.
34 Heri mtu yule anisikilizaye mimi, akisubiri siku zote malangoni mwangu, akingoja kwenye vizingiti vya mlango wangu.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Kwa maana yeyote anipataye mimi amepata uzima na kujipatia kibali kutoka kwa Bwana.
For he who finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor of Jehovah.
36 Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.
