Mithali 8
1 Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
Does not wisdom call out, and prudence bestow her voice?
2 Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
At the summits and the tops of exalted places, standing above the ways, in the midst of the paths,
3 kando ya malango yaelekeayo mjini, kwenye maingilio, hulia kwa sauti kubwa, akisema:
beside the gates of the city, at the very doors, she speaks, saying:
4 “Ni ninyi wanaume, ninaowaita; ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wanadamu wote.
“O men, to you I call out, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Ninyi ambao ni wajinga, pateni akili; ninyi mlio wapumbavu, pateni ufahamu.
O little ones, understand discernment. And you who are unwise, turn your souls.
6 Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
Listen, for I will speak about great things, and my lips will be opened, so as to foretell what is right.
7 Kinywa changu husema lililo kweli, kwa maana midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
My throat shall practice truth, and my lips shall detest the impious.
8 Maneno yote ya kinywa changu ni haki; hakuna mojawapo lililopotoka wala ukaidi.
All my words are just. There is no depravity in them, and no perversity.
9 Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
They are upright to those who understand, and equitable to those who discover knowledge.
10 Chagua mafundisho yangu badala ya fedha, maarifa badala ya dhahabu safi,
Accept my discipline, and not money. Choose the doctrine that is greater than gold.
11 kwa maana hekima ina thamani kuliko marijani na hakuna chochote unachohitaji kinacholingana naye.
For wisdom is better than all that is most precious, and everything that is desirable cannot compare to her.
12 “Mimi hekima, nakaa pamoja na busara; ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I, wisdom, dwell in counsel, and I am inside learned thoughts.
13 Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; ninachukia kiburi na majivuno, tabia mbaya na mazungumzo potovu.
The fear of the Lord hates evil. I detest arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
14 Ushauri na hukumu sahihi ni vyangu; nina ufahamu na nina nguvu.
Counsel is mine, and equity. Prudence is mine. Strength is mine.
15 Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
Through me, kings reign and legislators decree just conditions.
16 kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
Through me, princes rule and the powerful decree justice.
17 Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
I love those who love me. And those who stand watch for me until morning shall discover me.
18 Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
With me, are wealth and glory, superb riches and justice.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu safi; kile nitoacho hupita fedha iliyo bora.
For my fruit is better than gold and precious stones, and my progeny better than choice silver.
20 Natembea katika njia ya unyofu katika mapito ya haki,
I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21 nawapa utajiri wale wanipendao na kuzijaza hazina zao.
so that I may enrich those who love me, and thus complete their treasures.
22 “Bwana aliniumba mwanzoni mwa kazi yake, kabla ya matendo yake ya zamani;
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made anything, from the beginning.
23 niliteuliwa tangu milele, tangu mwanzoni, kabla ya dunia kuumbwa.
I was ordained from eternity, and out of antiquity, before the earth was formed.
24 Wakati hazijakuwepo bahari, nilikwishazaliwa, wakati hazijakuwepo chemchemi zilizojaa maji;
The abyss did not yet exist, and I was already conceived; neither had the fountains of waters yet erupted.
25 kabla milima haijawekwa mahali pake, kabla vilima havijakuwepo, nilikwishazaliwa,
The mountains, with their great mass, had not yet been established. Before the hills, I was brought forth.
26 kabla hajaumba dunia wala mashamba yake au vumbi lolote la dunia.
Still he had not made the earth, and the rivers, and the poles of the globe of the earth.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziweka mbingu mahali pake, wakati alichora mstari wa upeo wa macho juu ya uso wa kilindi,
I was already present: when he prepared the heavens; when, with a certain law and a circuit, he fortified the abyss;
28 wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
when he made firm the sky above, and set free the fountains of waters;
29 wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
when he encompassed the sea within its limits, and laid down a law for the waters, lest they transgress their limits; when he weighed the foundations of the earth.
30 Wakati huo nilikuwa fundi stadi kando yake. Nilijazwa na furaha siku baada ya siku, nikifurahi daima mbele zake,
I was with him in composing all things. And I was delighted, throughout every day, by playing in his sight at all times,
31 nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
playing in globe of the earth. And my delight was to be with the sons of men.
32 “Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
Therefore, sons, hear me now. Blessed are those who preserve my ways.
33 Sikilizeni mafundisho yangu mwe na hekima; msiyapuuze.
Listen to discipline, and become wise, and do not be willing to cast it aside.
34 Heri mtu yule anisikilizaye mimi, akisubiri siku zote malangoni mwangu, akingoja kwenye vizingiti vya mlango wangu.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, and who stands watch at my gates every day, and who observes at the posts of my doors.
35 Kwa maana yeyote anipataye mimi amepata uzima na kujipatia kibali kutoka kwa Bwana.
He who finds me, finds life, and he will draw salvation from the Lord.
36 Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
But he who sins against me will wound his own soul. All who hate me love death.”
