Mithali 8
1 Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
Isn't wisdom calling? Isn't understanding raising her voice?
2 Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
On the top of the hill by the road, she stands up at the crossroads.
3 kando ya malango yaelekeayo mjini, kwenye maingilio, hulia kwa sauti kubwa, akisema:
Beside the gates of the town, right there at the entrance, she cries out:
4 “Ni ninyi wanaume, ninaowaita; ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wanadamu wote.
“I'm calling out to you, everyone! My call is to everyone in the whole world!
5 Ninyi ambao ni wajinga, pateni akili; ninyi mlio wapumbavu, pateni ufahamu.
If you're immature, learn how to grow up. If you're stupid, learn what makes good sense.
6 Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
Listen to me because I have valuable things to explain to you.
7 Kinywa changu husema lililo kweli, kwa maana midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
I say what's right, because I tell the truth and I hate wickedness in all its forms.
8 Maneno yote ya kinywa changu ni haki; hakuna mojawapo lililopotoka wala ukaidi.
All the words I say are true; none are false or misleading.
9 Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
My words are straightforward to anyone with understanding; they are correct to those who have knowledge.
10 Chagua mafundisho yangu badala ya fedha, maarifa badala ya dhahabu safi,
Choose my instruction over silver; choose knowledge over pure gold.
11 kwa maana hekima ina thamani kuliko marijani na hakuna chochote unachohitaji kinacholingana naye.
For wisdom is more valuable than rubies; everything you could ever want just doesn't compare!
12 “Mimi hekima, nakaa pamoja na busara; ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I, wisdom, am at home with good decisions. I know how to find knowledge and discernment.
13 Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; ninachukia kiburi na majivuno, tabia mbaya na mazungumzo potovu.
Honoring the Lord means hating evil. So I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behavior and telling lies.
14 Ushauri na hukumu sahihi ni vyangu; nina ufahamu na nina nguvu.
I have advice and good judgment; I know what makes sense, and I have power.
15 Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
It's because of me that kings reign, and rulers issue fair decrees.
16 kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
It's because of me that leaders and nobles govern—all who rule justly.
17 Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
I love those who love me, and those who really look for me will find me.
18 Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
With me go riches and honor, lasting wealth and prosperity.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu safi; kile nitoacho hupita fedha iliyo bora.
The fruit I produce is better than gold, even pure gold, and my harvest is better than even the best silver.
20 Natembea katika njia ya unyofu katika mapito ya haki,
I live in a way that's right; I follow the paths of justice.
21 nawapa utajiri wale wanipendao na kuzijaza hazina zao.
I grant wealth to those who love me; I fill their treasure storehouses.
22 “Bwana aliniumba mwanzoni mwa kazi yake, kabla ya matendo yake ya zamani;
The Lord created me first of all; I was made before anything else.
23 niliteuliwa tangu milele, tangu mwanzoni, kabla ya dunia kuumbwa.
I was formed a long time ago, at the first, before the world began.
24 Wakati hazijakuwepo bahari, nilikwishazaliwa, wakati hazijakuwepo chemchemi zilizojaa maji;
I was born when there were no ocean depths, when there were no springs pouring out water.
25 kabla milima haijawekwa mahali pake, kabla vilima havijakuwepo, nilikwishazaliwa,
I was born before the mountains or the hills had been formed,
26 kabla hajaumba dunia wala mashamba yake au vumbi lolote la dunia.
when he hadn't made the earth and its fields or any of the earth's dust.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziweka mbingu mahali pake, wakati alichora mstari wa upeo wa macho juu ya uso wa kilindi,
I was there when he placed the heavens in position, when he drew the horizon over the ocean,
28 wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
when he made the clouds in the sky above, when he created the springs of the oceans,
29 wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
when he set limits on the sea so that the waters would not go farther than he ordered, and when he laid 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 beside him as a master craftsman. I made him happy every day, and I was always full of joy in his presence.
31 nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
I was so happy in the world he created, celebrating together with human beings.
32 “Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
And now, my sons, listen to me, for happy are those who follow my ways.
33 Sikilizeni mafundisho yangu mwe na hekima; msiyapuuze.
Listen to my instruction and be wise—do not reject it.
34 Heri mtu yule anisikilizaye mimi, akisubiri siku zote malangoni mwangu, akingoja kwenye vizingiti vya mlango wangu.
Happy are those who listen to me, watching for me every day at my doors, waiting at my entrance way.
35 Kwa maana yeyote anipataye mimi amepata uzima na kujipatia kibali kutoka kwa Bwana.
For those who find me, find life, and are accepted by the Lord.
36 Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
But those who don't find me hurt themselves; everyone who hates me loves death.”
