Mithali 23
1 Unapoketi kula pamoja na mtawala, angalia kwa uangalifu kilichopo mbele yako,
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
2 na kama ni mtu unayependa kula chakula sana weka kisu kooni.
and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
3 Usitamani vinono vyake maana ni chakula cha uongo.
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4 Usifanye kazi sana ili kupata mali; uwe na busara ya kutosha ili ujue wakati wa kuacha.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
5 Je utaruhusu macho yako yaangaze juu yake? Itaondoka, maana itawaa mabawa kama tai na kuruka angani.
When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
6 Usile chakula cha yule mwenye jicho baya- na usiwe na shauku ya vinono vyake,
Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
7 maana ni mtu mwenye kuhesabu gharama ya chakula. “Kula na kunywa!” anakuambia, lakini moyo wake haupo pamoja nawe.
for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8 Utatapika kiasi kidogo ulichokula na utakuwa umepoteza sifa zako njema.
You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Usiongee katika usikivu wa mpumbavu, maana atadharau hekima ya maneno yako.
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Usihamishe jiwe la mpaka wa kale au kunyang'anya mashamba ya yatima,
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 maana Mkombozi wao ni imara na atatetea kesi yao dhidi yako.
for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
12 Elekeza moyo wako katika mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13 Usizuie kuadilisha mtoto, maana ukimchapa kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una busara, basi moyo wangu utafurahi pia;
My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
16 sehemu zangu ndani kabisa zitafurahi sana midomo yako inaponena haki.
My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Usiruhusu moyo wako kuwahusudu wenye dhambi, lakini endelea kumcha Yehova siku zote.
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
18 Hakika tumaini lako halitaondolewa na siku zako za hapo baadaye.
For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Sikia- wewe! - mwanangu, na uwe mwenye busara na uelekeze moyo wako katika njia.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
20 Usishirikiane pamoja na walevi, au pamoja na walaji wa nyama walafi,
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
21 maana mlevi na mlafi wanakuwa masikini na usingizi utawavika kwa matambara.
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
22 Msikilize baba yako ambaye alikuzaa na usimdharau mama yako wakati akiwa mzee.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23 Inunue kweli, lakini usiiuze; nunua hekima, nidhamu, na ufahamu.
Invest in truth and never sell it— in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24 Baba yake mwenye haki atafurahia sana, na yule amzaaye mtoto mwenye busara atamfurahia.
The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
25 Mfurahishe baba yako na mama yako na yule aliyekuzaa afurahie.
May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
26 Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako na macho yako yachunguze njia zangu.
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
27 Maana malaya ni shimo refu, na mke wa mume mwingine ni kisima chembamba.
For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
28 Anavizia kama mnyang'anyi na huongeza idadi ya wadanganyifu miongoni mwa wanadamu.
Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
29 Nani mwenye taabu? Nani mwenye huzuni? Nani mwenye mapigano? Nani mwenye malalamiko? Nani mwenye majeraha bila sababu? Nani mwenye macho mekundu?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Ni wale ambao huzengea kwenye mvinyo, wale wanaojaribu kuchanganya mvinyo.
Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
31 Usiutazame mvinyo ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unametameta kwenye kikombe na kutelemka kwa uraini.
Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32 Mwisho wake unauma kama nyoka na sumu yake kama kifutu.
In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
33 Macho yako yataona vitu vigeni na moyo wako utatamka vitu vya ukaidi.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
34 Utakuwa kama anayelala kwenye bahari au anayelala juu ya mlingoti. “
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
35 Wamenipiga,” utasema, “lakini sikuumia. Wamenichapa, lakini sikuwa na hisia. Nitaamka lini? Nitatafuta kinywaji kingine.”
“They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
