Mithali 8
1 Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
Does wisdom not call? And understanding give forth her voice?
2 Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
At the head of high places by the way, She has stood between the paths,
3 kando ya malango yaelekeayo mjini, kwenye maingilio, hulia kwa sauti kubwa, akisema:
At the side of the gates, at the mouth of the city, The entrance of the openings, 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.
Understand, you simple ones, prudence, And you fools, understand the heart,
6 Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
Listen, for I speak noble things, And the opening of my lips [is] uprightness.
7 Kinywa changu husema lililo kweli, kwa maana midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
For my mouth utters truth, And wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.
8 Maneno yote ya kinywa changu ni haki; hakuna mojawapo lililopotoka wala ukaidi.
All the sayings of my mouth [are] in righteousness, Nothing in them is contrary and perverse.
9 Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
All of them [are] plain to the intelligent, And upright to those finding 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, Indeed, all delights are not comparable with it.
12 “Mimi hekima, nakaa pamoja na busara; ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And I find out a knowledge of purposes.
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 arrogance, and an evil way, And a contrary mouth, I have hated.
14 Ushauri na hukumu sahihi ni vyangu; nina ufahamu na nina nguvu.
Counsel and substance [are] mine, I [am] understanding, I have might.
15 Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
By me kings reign, and princes decree righteousness,
16 kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
By me chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of earth.
17 Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
I love those loving me, And those seeking me earnestly find me.
18 Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
Wealth and honor [are] with me, Lasting substance and righteousness.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu safi; kile nitoacho hupita fedha iliyo bora.
My fruit [is] better than gold, even fine gold, And my increase than choice silver.
20 Natembea katika njia ya unyofu katika mapito ya haki,
I cause to walk in a path of righteousness, In midst of paths of judgment,
21 nawapa utajiri wale wanipendao na kuzijaza hazina zao.
To cause my lovers to inherit substance, Indeed, I fill their treasures.
22 “Bwana aliniumba mwanzoni mwa kazi yake, kabla ya matendo yake ya zamani;
YHWH possessed me—the beginning of His way, Before His works since then.
23 niliteuliwa tangu milele, tangu mwanzoni, kabla ya dunia kuumbwa.
I was anointed from the age, from the first, From former states of the earth.
24 Wakati hazijakuwepo bahari, nilikwishazaliwa, wakati hazijakuwepo chemchemi zilizojaa maji;
In there being no depths, I was brought forth, In there being no fountains heavy [with] waters,
25 kabla milima haijawekwa mahali pake, kabla vilima havijakuwepo, nilikwishazaliwa,
Before mountains were sunk, Before heights, I was brought forth.
26 kabla hajaumba dunia wala mashamba yake au vumbi lolote la dunia.
While He had not made the earth, and out-places, And the top of the dusts of the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziweka mbingu mahali pake, wakati alichora mstari wa upeo wa macho juu ya uso wa kilindi,
In His preparing the heavens I [am] there, In His decreeing a circle on the face of the deep,
28 wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
In His strengthening clouds above, In His making strong fountains of the deep,
29 wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
In His setting for the sea its limit, And the waters do not transgress His command, In His decreeing the foundations of earth,
30 Wakati huo nilikuwa fundi stadi kando yake. Nilijazwa na furaha siku baada ya siku, nikifurahi daima mbele zake,
Then I am near Him, a workman, And I am a delight—day by day. Rejoicing before Him at all times,
31 nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights [are] with the sons of men.
32 “Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
And now, you sons, listen to me, Indeed, blessed are they who keep my ways.
33 Sikilizeni mafundisho yangu mwe na hekima; msiyapuuze.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not slight.
34 Heri mtu yule anisikilizaye mimi, akisubiri siku zote malangoni mwangu, akingoja kwenye vizingiti vya mlango wangu.
O the blessedness of the man listening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the doorposts of my entrance.
35 Kwa maana yeyote anipataye mimi amepata uzima na kujipatia kibali kutoka kwa Bwana.
For whoever is finding me, has found life, And brings out goodwill from YHWH.
36 Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
And whoever is missing me, is wronging his soul, All hating me have loved death!”
