Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction, to teach words of insight,
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
that you may receive instruction in order to live by doing what is right, just, and fair.
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive, and to give knowledge and discretion to young people.
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
Let wise people listen and increase their learning, and let discerning people get guidance,
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
to understand proverbs, sayings, and words of wise people and their riddles.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge— fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
My son, hear the instruction of your father and do not lay aside the rules of your mother;
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
they will be a graceful wreath for your head and pendants hanging from your neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin, refuse to follow them.
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 hide and attack innocent people for no reason.
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 Sheol takes away those who are healthy, and make them like those who fall into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
We shall find all kinds of valuable things; we will fill our houses with what we steal from others.
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse together.”
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
My son, do not walk down that road with them; do not let your foot touch where they walk;
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
their feet run to evil and they hurry to shed blood.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
For it is useless to spread the net in the sight of any bird.
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
These men lie in wait for their own blood— they set an ambush 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 ways of everyone who gains riches by injustice; unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the open places;
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, at the entrance of the city gates she speaks,
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia 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 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
Pay attention to my correction; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
I have called, and you have refused to listen; I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
But you have ignored all my instruction and paid no attention to my correction.
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
I will laugh at your calamity, I will mock you when the terror comes—
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
when your fearful dread comes like a storm and disaster sweeps over 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 they will call upon me, and I will not answer; they will desperately call for me, but they will not find me.
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
Because they hate knowledge and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
they would not follow my instruction, and they despised all my correction.
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
They will eat the fruit of their ways, and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
For the naive are killed when they turn away, and the indifference of fools will destroy them.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
But whoever listens to me will live in safety and will rest secure with no fear of disaster.”
