Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, King of Israel:
2 Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
For the knowledge of wisdom and correction, for discerning the sayings of intelligence;
3 kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
For receiving the correction of prudence, righteousness and justice, and equity;
4 huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
For giving To the simple shrewdness, To the young man, knowledge and discretion.
5 wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
A wise man, will hear, and will increase learning, and a, discreet man, wise counsels, will acquire,
6 kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
By gaining discernment of proverb, and satire, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
The reverence of Yahweh, is the beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and correction, the foolish have despised.
8 Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
Hear, my son, the correction of thy father, and do not reject the instruction of thy mother;
9 Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
For, a wreath of beauty, shall they be to thy head, and chains of ornament, to thy neck.
10 Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
My son, if sinners entice thee, do not consent.
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 watch in secret for him who is needlessly innocent;
Let us engulf them, like hades, alive, While in health, like them who are going down to the pit; (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
All costly substance, shall we find, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
Thy lot, shalt thou cast into our midst, One purse, shall there be, for us all.
15 Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
My son, do not walk in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path.
16 kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
For, their feet, to mischief, do run, and haste to the shedding of blood.
17 Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
Surely, in vain, is spread the net, in the sight of aught that hath wings!
18 Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
Yet, they, for their own blood, lie in wait, They watch in secret for their own life.
19 Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
Such are the ways of every one that graspeth with greed, The life of the owners thereof, it taketh away!
20 Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
Wisdom, in the open place, soundeth forth, in the broadways, she raiseth her voice;
21 kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
At the head of bustling streets, she crieth aloud, —at the openings of the gates in the city—her sayings, she doth utter: —
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, in scoffing, delight them? and, dullards, hate knowledge?
23 Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
Will ye turn, at my reproof? Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will make known my words to you.
24 Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
Because I called, and ye refused, I stretched out my hand, and no one regarded;
25 kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
But ye dismissed all my counsel, and, to my rebuke, would not yield,
26 mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
I also, at your calamity, will laugh, I will mock, when cometh your dread;
27 wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
When cometh as a crashing your dread, and, your calamity, as a storm-wind, overtaketh, when there come upon you, distress and anguish.
28 “Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
Then, will they call me, but I will not answer, they will seek me diligently, but shall not find me.
29 Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
Because they hated knowledge, and, the reverence of Yahweh, did not choose;
30 kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
Consented not to my counsel, disdained all my rebuke,
31 watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and, with their own counsels, be filled.
32 Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
For, the turning away of the simple, will slay them, —and, the carelessness of dullards, will destroy them.
33 Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
Whereas, he that hearkeneth unto me, shall dwell safely, and be at rest, without dread of misfortune.
