Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
For knowing wisdom and instruction, For understanding sayings of intelligence,
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
For receiving the instruction of wisdom, Righteousness, judgment, and uprightness,
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
For giving to simple ones—prudence, To a youth—knowledge and discretion.
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
(The wise hear and increase learning, And the intelligent obtain counsels.)
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
Fear of YHWH [is the] beginning of knowledge, Fools have despised wisdom and instruction!
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
Hear, my son, the instruction of your father, And do not leave the law of your mother,
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
For they [are] a graceful wreath to your head, And chains to your neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not be willing.
11 Kama watasema, “haya tufuatae, tuvizie ili kufanya mauaji, tujifiche ili tuwashambulie watu wasio na hatia, pasipo sababu.
If they say, “Come with us, we lay wait for blood, We watch secretly for the innocent without cause,
12 Haya tuwameza wakiwa hai, kama kuzimu inavyowachukua wenye afya, na kuwa kama wale waangukao kwenye shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
We swallow them as Sheol—alive, And whole—as those going down [to] the pit, (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
We find every precious substance, We fill our houses [with] spoil,
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
You cast your lot among us, One purse is—to all of us.”
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
My son! Do not go in the way with them, Withhold your foot from their path,
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
For their feet run to evil, And they hurry to shed blood.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
Surely in vain is the net spread out before the eyes of any bird.
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
And they lay wait for their own blood, They watch secretly for their own lives.
19 Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
So [are] the paths of every gainer of dishonest gain, It takes the life of its owners.
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom cries aloud in an out-place, She gives forth her voice in broad places,
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
She calls at the head of the multitudes, In the openings of the gates, In the city she says her sayings:
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
“Until when, you simple, do you love simplicity? And have scorners desired their scorning? And do fools hate knowledge?
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
Turn back at my reproof, behold, I pour forth my spirit to you, I make known my words with you.
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
Because I have called, and you refuse, I stretched out my hand, and none is attending,
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
And you slight all my counsel, And you have not desired my reproof.
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
I also laugh in your calamity, I deride when your fear comes,
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
When your fear comes as destruction, And your calamity comes as a windstorm, When adversity and distress come on you.
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
Then they call me, and I do not answer, They seek me earnestly, and do not find me.
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
Because that they have hated knowledge, And have not chosen the fear of YHWH.
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
They have not consented to my counsel, They have despised all my reproof,
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
And they eat of the fruit of their way, And they are filled from their own counsels.
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
For the turning of the simple slays them, And the security of the foolish destroys them.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
And whoever is listening to me dwells confidently, And [is] quiet from fear of evil!”
