Mithali 8
1 Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
2 Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, 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, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
4 “Ni ninyi wanaume, ninaowaita; ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wanadamu wote.
O ye men, to you I call, 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 subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
6 Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
7 Kinywa changu husema lililo kweli, kwa maana midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
8 Maneno yote ya kinywa changu ni haki; hakuna mojawapo lililopotoka wala ukaidi.
All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.
9 Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
10 Chagua mafundisho yangu badala ya fedha, maarifa badala ya dhahabu safi,
Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
11 kwa maana hekima ina thamani kuliko marijani na hakuna chochote unachohitaji kinacholingana naye.
For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.
12 “Mimi hekima, nakaa pamoja na busara; ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
13 Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; ninachukia kiburi na majivuno, tabia mbaya na mazungumzo potovu.
The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate 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 and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
15 Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
16 kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
17 Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
18 Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
With me are riches and glory, glorious 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 the precious stone, and my blossoms 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.
That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill 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 any thing from the beginning.
23 niliteuliwa tangu milele, tangu mwanzoni, kabla ya dunia kuumbwa.
I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.
24 Wakati hazijakuwepo bahari, nilikwishazaliwa, wakati hazijakuwepo chemchemi zilizojaa maji;
The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:
25 kabla milima haijawekwa mahali pake, kabla vilima havijakuwepo, nilikwishazaliwa,
The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:
26 kabla hajaumba dunia wala mashamba yake au vumbi lolote la dunia.
He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziweka mbingu mahali pake, wakati alichora mstari wa upeo wa macho juu ya uso wa kilindi,
When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:
28 wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
29 wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced 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 forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
31 nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
32 “Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Sikilizeni mafundisho yangu mwe na hekima; msiyapuuze.
Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Heri mtu yule anisikilizaye mimi, akisubiri siku zote malangoni mwangu, akingoja kwenye vizingiti vya mlango wangu.
Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
35 Kwa maana yeyote anipataye mimi amepata uzima na kujipatia kibali kutoka kwa Bwana.
He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:
36 Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
