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 comprehend the words of understanding;
3 kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
To receive the discipline of wisdom, justice, and right, 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 the man of understanding may attain unto wise 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 the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and discipline.
8 Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the teaching of thy mother;
9 Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto 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 lie in wait for blood, let us lurk for the innocent without cause;
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave, and whole, as those that 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.”
Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse' —
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 the net is spread in the eyes of any bird;
18 Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
And these lie in wait for their own blood, they lurk 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 every one that is greedy of gain; it taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
20 Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
Wisdom crieth aloud in the streets, she uttereth 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 calleth at the head of the noisy streets, at the entrances of the gates, in the city, she uttereth her words:
22 “Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
'How long, ye thoughtless, will ye love thoughtlessness? And how long will scorners delight them in scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24 Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
Because I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand, and no man attended,
25 kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof;
26 mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
I also, in your calamity, will laugh, I will mock when your dread cometh;
27 wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
When your dread cometh as a storm, and your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; when trouble and distress come upon you.
28 “Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
Then will they call me, but I will not answer, they will seek me earnestly, but they shall not find me.
29 Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD;
30 kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
They would none of my counsel, they despised all my reproof.
31 watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
Therefore shall they 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 waywardness of the thoughtless shall slay them, and the confidence of fools shall destroy them.
33 Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil.'
