Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.
2 Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight,
3 kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair.
4 huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people.
5 wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,
6 kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.
7 Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge— fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;
9 Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.
10 Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.
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 hide and attack innocent people for no reason.
Let us swallow them up alive, like Sheol takes away those who are healthy, and make them like those who fall into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
We shall find all kinds of valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others.
14 Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”
15 Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;
16 kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.
17 Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
For it is useless to spread the net in the sight of any bird.
18 Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush 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 gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.
20 Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;
21 kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,
22 “Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
“How long, you naive people, will you love being naive? How long, you mockers, will you delight in mockery, and how long, you fools, will you hate knowledge?
23 Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
24 Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.
25 kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.
26 mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes—
27 wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
when your fearful dread comes like a storm and disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
Then they will call upon me, and I will not answer; they will desperately call for me, but they will not find me.
29 Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
30 kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction.
31 watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.
32 Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference of fools will destroy them.
33 Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster.”
