Mithali 8
1 Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
It is as if wisdom, with great understanding [of many things], is calling [PRS] out [to people].
2 Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
Wisdom stands on hilltops and at crossroads.
3 kando ya malango yaelekeayo mjini, kwenye maingilio, hulia kwa sauti kubwa, akisema:
[Wisdom also stands] at the city gates and shouts loudly,
4 “Ni ninyi wanaume, ninaowaita; ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wanadamu wote.
“I am calling to everyone! I am shouting loudly to all people!
5 Ninyi ambao ni wajinga, pateni akili; ninyi mlio wapumbavu, pateni ufahamu.
You people who do not know how to do things that are smart to do, get sound judgment; you foolish people, get good understanding!
6 Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
Listen to me, because I have some excellent/important things to say. What I say is what is fair/right.
7 Kinywa changu husema lililo kweli, kwa maana midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
I speak what is true; I detest speaking [MTY] what is false/deceptive.
8 Maneno yote ya kinywa changu ni haki; hakuna mojawapo lililopotoka wala ukaidi.
Everything that I say is honest; there is nothing that I say that deceives [people].
9 Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
My words are clear to those who have good sense; those who are wise know that what I say is right.
10 Chagua mafundisho yangu badala ya fedha, maarifa badala ya dhahabu safi,
[If someone offers you the kind of teaching I give] or offers you silver, choose my teaching. [If he offers to show you how to be wise] or offers you gold, choose to know how to be wise,
11 kwa maana hekima ina thamani kuliko marijani na hakuna chochote unachohitaji kinacholingana naye.
because wisdom is more valuable than jewels. Nothing that you desire [is as valuable] as being wise.
12 “Mimi hekima, nakaa pamoja na busara; ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I, wisdom, and understanding of what is smart to do, cannot be separated. We are like two people who live in the same house. I know how to be wise and how to make smart decisions.
13 Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; ninachukia kiburi na majivuno, tabia mbaya na mazungumzo potovu.
[All the people] who revere Yahweh hate evil. I, wisdom, hate [people who are] proud and [people] who think they are more important [than others]. I hate [people who] behave in an evil way and those who say things to deceive [others].
14 Ushauri na hukumu sahihi ni vyangu; nina ufahamu na nina nguvu.
I give [people] good advice and I enable them to do things that are wise. I understand how things really are, and I am strong.
15 Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
When kings are wise, they rule [well]; and when rulers are wise, they make laws that are just/fair.
16 kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
Rulers govern their people with the help of me, wisdom, and those who have authority decide things fairly/just with my help.
17 Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
I, [wisdom], love [all] those who love me, and [all] those who truly seek me [will] find me.
18 Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
I enable [people] to become rich and to be honored; [I enable them to have] wealth that will last and to be successful.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu safi; kile nitoacho hupita fedha iliyo bora.
What I can give people is more valuable than fine/pure gold and the best silver.
20 Natembea katika njia ya unyofu katika mapito ya haki,
I always do what is righteous and just/fair.
21 nawapa utajiri wale wanipendao na kuzijaza hazina zao.
I give wealth to those who love me; I fill their houses with valuable things.
22 “Bwana aliniumba mwanzoni mwa kazi yake, kabla ya matendo yake ya zamani;
Yahweh created me, [wisdom], when he began [to create the world]; he created me [to do my work] before he created anything else.
23 niliteuliwa tangu milele, tangu mwanzoni, kabla ya dunia kuumbwa.
He appointed me long ago, before he created the earth.
24 Wakati hazijakuwepo bahari, nilikwishazaliwa, wakati hazijakuwepo chemchemi zilizojaa maji;
I was born before the oceans were [created], when there were no springs from which water flowed.
25 kabla milima haijawekwa mahali pake, kabla vilima havijakuwepo, nilikwishazaliwa,
I was born before the hills and mountains were formed;
26 kabla hajaumba dunia wala mashamba yake au vumbi lolote la dunia.
[I, wisdom], was born before Yahweh made the earth, before he made the fields and the soil on the earth.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziweka mbingu mahali pake, wakati alichora mstari wa upeo wa macho juu ya uso wa kilindi,
I was there when Yahweh put the sky in place, when he marked the place [in the distance] where the sky and the oceans [seem to] come together.
28 wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
I was there when Yahweh put the clouds above [the earth] and when he caused the water that is inside the earth to be secure.
29 wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
I was there when he fixed a boundary for the seas, so that the water in the seas would not go past those boundaries, and when he put down the foundations which support the earth.
30 Wakati huo nilikuwa fundi stadi kando yake. Nilijazwa na furaha siku baada ya siku, nikifurahi daima mbele zake,
I was at the side of Yahweh, the master worker (OR, as though I was his child). I caused him to be happy every day, and I was always rejoicing when I was with him.
31 nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
I was delighted with the world that he created; I was happy with the people whom he created, too.
32 “Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
So, [you people who are like] my sons, listen to me. [I am] pleased with [all] those who obey my teachings.
33 Sikilizeni mafundisho yangu mwe na hekima; msiyapuuze.
Listen [carefully] to what I teach you and become wise. Do not reject my teaching!
34 Heri mtu yule anisikilizaye mimi, akisubiri siku zote malangoni mwangu, akingoja kwenye vizingiti vya mlango wangu.
[I am] pleased with those who listen to me, those who are outside my house every day, waiting [for me to come out].
35 Kwa maana yeyote anipataye mimi amepata uzima na kujipatia kibali kutoka kwa Bwana.
Those who find me will have [a long] life, and Yahweh [will] be pleased with them.
36 Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
But those who stray away from me [just] harm themselves. All those who hate me, [it is as though] [IRO] they are loving death.”
