< Zaburi 49 >
1 Kwa mwimbishaji. Zaburi ya wana wa Kora. Sikieni haya, enyi mataifa yote, sikilizeni, ninyi wote mkaao dunia hii.
[For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.] Hear this, all you peoples. Listen, all you inhabitants of the world,
2 Wakubwa kwa wadogo, matajiri na maskini pamoja:
both low and high, rich and poor together.
3 Kinywa changu kitasema maneno ya hekima, usemi wa moyo wangu utatoa ufahamu.
My mouth will speak words of wisdom. My heart shall utter understanding.
4 Nitatega sikio langu nisikilize mithali, nitafafanua kitendawili kwa zeze:
I will incline my ear to a proverb. I will open my riddle on the harp.
5 Kwa nini niogope siku mbaya zinapokuja, wakati wadanganyifu waovu wanaponizunguka,
Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who deceive me surrounds me?
6 wale wanaotegemea mali zao na kujivunia utajiri wao mwingi?
They trust in their wealth, and boast in the multitude of their riches.
7 Hakuna mwanadamu awaye yote awezaye kuukomboa uhai wa mwingine, au kumpa Mungu fidia kwa ajili yake.
Truly these cannot redeem a person, nor give to God a ransom for him.
8 Fidia ya uhai ni gharama kubwa, hakuna malipo yoyote yanayotosha,
For the redemption of their life is costly, no payment is ever enough,
9 ili kwamba aishi milele na asione uharibifu.
that he should live on forever, that he should not see corruption.
10 Wote wanaona kwamba watu wenye hekima hufa; wajinga na wapumbavu vivyo hivyo huangamia na kuwaachia wengine mali zao.
For he sees that wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless perish, and leave their wealth to others.
11 Makaburi yao yatabaki kuwa nyumba zao za milele, makao yao vizazi vyote; ingawa walikuwa na mashamba na kuyaita kwa majina yao.
Their tombs are their homes forever, and their dwelling places to all generations. They name their lands after themselves.
12 Lakini mwanadamu, licha ya utajiri wake, hadumu; anafanana na mnyama aangamiaye.
But man, despite his riches, doesn't endure. He is like the animals that perish.
13 Hii ndiyo hatima ya wale wanaojitumainia wenyewe, pia ya wafuasi wao, waliothibitisha misemo yao.
This is the destiny of those who are foolish, and of those who approve their sayings. (Selah)
14 Kama kondoo, wamewekewa kwenda kaburini, nacho kifo kitawala. Wanyofu watawatawala asubuhi, maumbile yao yataozea kaburini, mbali na majumba yao makubwa ya fahari. (Sheol )
They are appointed as a flock for Sheol. Death shall be their shepherd. The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning. Their beauty shall decay in Sheol, far from their mansion. (Sheol )
15 Lakini Mungu atakomboa uhai wangu na kaburi, hakika atanichukua kwake. (Sheol )
But God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me. (Selah) (Sheol )
16 Usitishwe mtu anapotajirika, fahari ya nyumba yake inapoongezeka,
Do not be afraid when a man is made rich, when the glory of his house is increased.
17 kwa maana hatachukua chochote atakapokufa, fahari yake haitashuka pamoja naye.
For when he dies he shall carry nothing away. His glory shall not descend after him.
18 Ingawa alipokuwa akiishi alijihesabu kuwa heri, na wanadamu wanakusifu unapofanikiwa,
Though while he lived he blessed his soul—and men praise you when you do well for yourself—
19 atajiunga na kizazi cha baba zake, ambao hawataona kamwe nuru ya uzima.
he shall go to the generation of his fathers. They shall never see the light.
20 Mwanadamu mwenye utajiri bila ufahamu ni kama wanyama waangamiao.
A man who has riches without understanding, is like the animals that perish.