Mithali 8
1 Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 kando ya malango yaelekeayo mjini, kwenye maingilio, hulia kwa sauti kubwa, akisema:
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
4 “Ni ninyi wanaume, ninaowaita; ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wanadamu wote.
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 Ninyi ambao ni wajinga, pateni akili; ninyi mlio wapumbavu, pateni ufahamu.
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
Hear; for I will speak of 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 speak 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 froward or perverse in them.
9 Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that 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 dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13 Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; ninachukia kiburi na majivuno, tabia mbaya na mazungumzo potovu.
The fear of YHWH is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Ushauri na hukumu sahihi ni vyangu; nina ufahamu na nina nguvu.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15 Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches 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 lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21 nawapa utajiri wale wanipendao na kuzijaza hazina zao.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
22 “Bwana aliniumba mwanzoni mwa kazi yake, kabla ya matendo yake ya zamani;
YHWH 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, or ever 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 was I 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 highest part 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 prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28 wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed 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, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32 “Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for 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, 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 whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of YHWH.
36 Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
