Mithali 9
1 Hekima amejenga nyumba yake; amechonga nguzo zake saba.
Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;
2 Ameandaa nyama na kuchanganya divai yake; pia ameandaa meza yake.
she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table;
3 Amewatuma watumishi wake wa kike, naye huita kutoka mahali pa juu sana pa mji.
she hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city,
4 Anawaambia wale wasio na akili, “Wote ambao ni wajinga na waje hapa!
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith,
5 Njooni, mle chakula changu na mnywe divai niliyoichanganya.
Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled.
6 Acheni njia zenu za ujinga nanyi mtaishi; tembeeni katika njia ya ufahamu.
Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence.
7 “Yeyote anayemkosoa mwenye mzaha hukaribisha matukano; yeyote anayekemea mtu mwovu hupatwa na matusi.
He that instructeth a scorner getteth to himself shame; and he that reproveth a wicked [man] [getteth] to himself a blot.
8 Usimkemee mwenye mzaha la sivyo atakuchukia; mkemee mwenye hekima naye atakupenda.
Reprove not a scorner, 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.
Impart to a wise [man], and he will become yet wiser; teach a righteous [man], and he will increase 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 intelligence.
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 years of life shall be added to thee.
12 Kama wewe una hekima, hekima yako itakupa tuzo; kama wewe ni mtu wa mzaha, wewe mwenyewe ndiwe utateseka.”
If thou art wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 Mwanamke aitwaye Mpumbavu ana kelele; hana adabu na hana maarifa.
The foolish woman is clamorous; she is stupid, and knoweth nothing.
14 Huketi kwenye mlango wa nyumba yake, juu ya kiti katika mahali pa juu sana pa mji,
And she sitteth at the entry 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 passers-by who go right on their ways:
16 Anawaambia wale wasio na akili, “Wote ambao ni wajinga na waje hapa ndani!”
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
17 “Maji yaliyoibiwa ni matamu; chakula kinacholiwa sirini ni kitamu!”
Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread of secrecy is pleasant.
