Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel,
2 Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
to know wisdom and instruction, to discern the words of understanding,
3 kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness and justice and equity,
4 huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion,
5 wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning, and that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsels,
6 kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
to understand a proverb, and a figure, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. The foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother.
9 Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
For they shall be a garland of grace to thy head, and chains about thy neck.
10 Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
11 Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;
If they say, Come with us. Let us lay wait for blood. Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, and whole, as those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
We shall find all precious substance. We shall fill our houses with spoil.
14 Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
Thou shall cast thy lot among us. We will all have one bag.
15 Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
My son, walk not thou in the way with them. Restrain thy foot from their path.
16 kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
17 Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird,
18 Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
and these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain. It takes away the life of the owners of it.
20 Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
Wisdom cries aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the broad places.
21 kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
She cries in the chief place of concourse, at the entrance of the gates, in the city. She utters her words:
22 “Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
Turn back at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you. I will make my words known to you.
24 Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
Because I have called, and ye have refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man has regarded,
25 kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
but ye have made all my counsel void, and want none of my reproof,
26 mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your fear comes,
27 wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
when your fear comes as a storm, and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me,
29 Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
because they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Jehovah.
30 kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
31 watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
For the backsliding of the simple shall kill them, and the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
33 Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
But he who hearkens to me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil.
