Mithali 9
1 Hekima amejenga nyumba yake; amechonga nguzo zake saba.
Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn out her seven pillars.
2 Ameandaa nyama na kuchanganya divai yake; pia ameandaa meza yake.
She has killed her beasts. She has mingled her wine. She has also furnished her table.
3 Amewatuma watumishi wake wa kike, naye huita kutoka mahali pa juu sana pa mji.
She has sent forth her maidens. She cries out upon the highest places of the city:
4 Anawaambia wale wasio na akili, “Wote ambao ni wajinga na waje hapa!
He who is simple, let him turn in here. As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
5 Njooni, mle chakula changu na mnywe divai niliyoichanganya.
Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6 Acheni njia zenu za ujinga nanyi mtaishi; tembeeni katika njia ya ufahamu.
Forsake ye simpleness, and live, and walk in the way of understanding.
7 “Yeyote anayemkosoa mwenye mzaha hukaribisha matukano; yeyote anayekemea mtu mwovu hupatwa na matusi.
He who corrects a scoffer gets himself reviling. And he who reproves a wicked man gets himself a bruise.
8 Usimkemee mwenye mzaha la sivyo atakuchukia; mkemee mwenye hekima naye atakupenda.
Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee. Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Mfundishe mtu mwenye hekima naye atakuwa na hekima zaidi; mfundishe mtu mwadilifu naye atazidi kufundishika.
Give opportunity to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
10 “Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha hekima, na kumjua Aliye Mtakatifu ni ufahamu.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding.
11 Kwa maana kwa msaada wangu siku zako zitakuwa nyingi, na miaka itaongezwa katika maisha yako.
For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 Kama wewe una hekima, hekima yako itakupa tuzo; kama wewe ni mtu wa mzaha, wewe mwenyewe ndiwe utateseka.”
If thou are wise, thou are wise for thyself. And if thou scoff, thou alone shall bear it.
13 Mwanamke aitwaye Mpumbavu ana kelele; hana adabu na hana maarifa.
The foolish woman is clamorous, simple, and knows nothing.
14 Huketi kwenye mlango wa nyumba yake, juu ya kiti katika mahali pa juu sana pa mji,
And she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
15 akiita wale wapitao karibu, waendao moja kwa moja kwenye njia yao.
to call to those who pass by, who go right on their ways:
16 Anawaambia wale wasio na akili, “Wote ambao ni wajinga na waje hapa ndani!”
He who is simple, let him turn in here. And as for him who is void of understanding, she says to him,
17 “Maji yaliyoibiwa ni matamu; chakula kinacholiwa sirini ni kitamu!”
Stolen waters are sweet, and bread in secret is pleasant.
