Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
That one may learn wisdom and instruction, And receive words of understanding;
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
That one may gain the instruction of prudence, Justice, equity, and uprightness;
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
Which will give caution to the simple, To the young man wisdom and discretion;
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
Let the wise man hear, and he will increase his knowledge, And the man of understanding will gain wise counsels;
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
So as to understand a proverb and a deep maxim, The words of the wise and their dark sayings.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
Hear, O my son! the instruction of thy father, And neglect not the teaching of thy mother!
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
For they shall be a graceful wreath for thy head, And a chain around thy neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not!
11 Kama watasema, “haya tufuatae, tuvizie ili kufanya mauaji, tujifiche ili tuwashambulie watu wasio na hatia, pasipo sababu.
If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us lurk secretly for him who is innocent in vain;
12 Haya tuwameza wakiwa hai, kama kuzimu inavyowachukua wenye afya, na kuwa kama wale waangukao kwenye shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
Let us swallow them up alive, like the underworld, Yea, in full health, as those that go down into the pit; (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
We shall find all kinds of precious substance, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse;”—
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
My son, walk thou not in their way, Refrain thy foot from their path!
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
For their feet run to evil, And make haste to shed blood.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
For as the net is spread in vain Before the eyes of any bird,
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
So they lie in wait for their own blood; They lurk secretly for their own lives.
19 Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
Such are the ways of every one greedy of unjust gain; It taketh away the life of the possessor thereof.
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom crieth out in the highway; In the market-place she uttereth her voice;
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
At the head of the noisy streets she crieth aloud; At the entrances of the gates, throughout the city, she proclaimeth her words [[saying]]:
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? How long will scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
Turn ye at my reproof! Behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make known my words to you!
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
“Because I have called, and ye have refused, —Because I have stretched out my hand, and no one hath regarded.
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
Because ye have rejected all my counsel, And have slighted my rebuke, —
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
When your fear cometh upon you like a storm. And destruction overtaketh you like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer! They will seek me early, But they shall not find me!
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
Because they have hated knowledge, And have not chosen the fear of the LORD, —
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
Because they would not attend to my counsel, And have despised all my reproof, —
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own devices;
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
Yea, the turning away of the simple shall slay them, And the carelessness of fools shall destroy them.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
But whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell securely, And shall not be disquieted with the fear of evil.”
