Mithali 9
1 Hekima amejenga nyumba yake; amechonga nguzo zake saba.
[It is as though] wisdom [is a woman who] has built a [big] house for herself, and has set up seven columns [to support the roof],
2 Ameandaa nyama na kuchanganya divai yake; pia ameandaa meza yake.
and has slaughtered an animal [and cooked the meat], and has mixed [nice spices] in the wine, and has put [the food] on the table.
3 Amewatuma watumishi wake wa kike, naye huita kutoka mahali pa juu sana pa mji.
[It is as though then] she sent out her servant women to call out from the highest place in the town,
4 Anawaambia wale wasio na akili, “Wote ambao ni wajinga na waje hapa!
“You people who need to understand more, come in!” And to those who are ignorant, [it is as though] she calls out,
5 Njooni, mle chakula changu na mnywe divai niliyoichanganya.
“Come and eat the food that I [have prepared], and drink the [good] wine that I have mixed!
6 Acheni njia zenu za ujinga nanyi mtaishi; tembeeni katika njia ya ufahamu.
(Leave/Go away from) [other] foolish people, and [if you do that, you will continue to] live. Walk on the road that will enable you to (have knowledge/know what is true and what is not true).”
7 “Yeyote anayemkosoa mwenye mzaha hukaribisha matukano; yeyote anayekemea mtu mwovu hupatwa na matusi.
If you rebuke someone who will not allow others to correct him, he will insult you. If you reprove/scold an evil man, he will hurt you.
8 Usimkemee mwenye mzaha la sivyo atakuchukia; mkemee mwenye hekima naye atakupenda.
Do not rebuke someone who will not allow others to (correct him/tell him what he has done is wrong), because he will hate you for doing that. [But] if you rebuke a wise person, he will respect you.
9 Mfundishe mtu mwenye hekima naye atakuwa na hekima zaidi; mfundishe mtu mwadilifu naye atazidi kufundishika.
If you give instruction to wise people, they will become wiser. And if you teach righteous people, they will learn more.
10 “Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha hekima, na kumjua Aliye Mtakatifu ni ufahamu.
If you want to be wise, you must start by revering Yahweh, and if you know God, the Holy One, you will understand [which teachings are wise/true].
11 Kwa maana kwa msaada wangu siku zako zitakuwa nyingi, na miaka itaongezwa katika maisha yako.
If you become wise, you will live many years [DOU].
12 Kama wewe una hekima, hekima yako itakupa tuzo; kama wewe ni mtu wa mzaha, wewe mwenyewe ndiwe utateseka.”
If you are wise, you are the one who will benefit from it; if you ridicule [becoming wise], you are the one who will suffer.
13 Mwanamke aitwaye Mpumbavu ana kelele; hana adabu na hana maarifa.
Foolish women talk loudly; they are ignorant and are never ashamed [of the wrong things that they do].
14 Huketi kwenye mlango wa nyumba yake, juu ya kiti katika mahali pa juu sana pa mji,
They sit at the doors of their houses [or] they sit on the top [of the hills] in the town,
15 akiita wale wapitao karibu, waendao moja kwa moja kwenye njia yao.
and they call out to the men who are passing by, who are trying to be concerned with their own affairs,
16 Anawaambia wale wasio na akili, “Wote ambao ni wajinga na waje hapa ndani!”
“You people who need to understand more, come into [my house]!” And to those who are ignorant, they call out,
17 “Maji yaliyoibiwa ni matamu; chakula kinacholiwa sirini ni kitamu!”
“[Just as] water which you have stolen tastes very good and food that you eat by yourself tastes the best, [if you have sex secretly with someone to whom you are not married, you will enjoy it very much].”
18 Lakini hawajui hata kidogo kuwa wafu wako humo, kwamba wageni wake huyo mwanamke wako katika vilindi vya kuzimu. (Sheol h7585)
But men who go to those women’s houses do not know that those who have gone there are now dead; they have descended down into the deepest parts of the place where dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
