Mithali 8
1 Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 kando ya malango yaelekeayo mjini, kwenye maingilio, hulia kwa sauti kubwa, akisema:
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 “Ni ninyi wanaume, ninaowaita; ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wanadamu wote.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 Ninyi ambao ni wajinga, pateni akili; ninyi mlio wapumbavu, pateni ufahamu.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 Kinywa changu husema lililo kweli, kwa maana midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8 Maneno yote ya kinywa changu ni haki; hakuna mojawapo lililopotoka wala ukaidi.
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
10 Chagua mafundisho yangu badala ya fedha, maarifa badala ya dhahabu safi,
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 kwa maana hekima ina thamani kuliko marijani na hakuna chochote unachohitaji kinacholingana naye.
For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 “Mimi hekima, nakaa pamoja na busara; ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; ninachukia kiburi na majivuno, tabia mbaya na mazungumzo potovu.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
14 Ushauri na hukumu sahihi ni vyangu; nina ufahamu na nina nguvu.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
17 Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth 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; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 Natembea katika njia ya unyofu katika mapito ya haki,
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
21 nawapa utajiri wale wanipendao na kuzijaza hazina zao.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 “Bwana aliniumba mwanzoni mwa kazi yake, kabla ya matendo yake ya zamani;
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 niliteuliwa tangu milele, tangu mwanzoni, kabla ya dunia kuumbwa.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 Wakati hazijakuwepo bahari, nilikwishazaliwa, wakati hazijakuwepo chemchemi zilizojaa maji;
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 kabla milima haijawekwa mahali pake, kabla vilima havijakuwepo, nilikwishazaliwa,
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 kabla hajaumba dunia wala mashamba yake au vumbi lolote la dunia.
I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziweka mbingu mahali pake, wakati alichora mstari wa upeo wa macho juu ya uso wa kilindi,
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
29 wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
I was there when he made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.
30 Wakati huo nilikuwa fundi stadi kando yake. Nilijazwa na furaha siku baada ya siku, nikifurahi daima mbele zake,
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 “Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
33 Sikilizeni mafundisho yangu mwe na hekima; msiyapuuze.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
34 Heri mtu yule anisikilizaye mimi, akisubiri siku zote malangoni mwangu, akingoja kwenye vizingiti vya mlango wangu.
The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside the posts of my doors.
35 Kwa maana yeyote anipataye mimi amepata uzima na kujipatia kibali kutoka kwa Bwana.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
