< Mithali 23 >

1 Unapoketi kula pamoja na mtawala, angalia kwa uangalifu kilichopo mbele yako,
When you sit down for a meal with a ruler, look carefully at what is placed before you,
2 na kama ni mtu unayependa kula chakula sana weka kisu kooni.
and cut down if you have a big appetite.
3 Usitamani vinono vyake maana ni chakula cha uongo.
Don't be greedy for his fancy food, for it's offered with deceptive motives.
4 Usifanye kazi sana ili kupata mali; uwe na busara ya kutosha ili ujue wakati wa kuacha.
Don't wear yourself out trying to get rich—be wise enough not to bother!
5 Je utaruhusu macho yako yaangaze juu yake? Itaondoka, maana itawaa mabawa kama tai na kuruka angani.
It disappears in the blink of an eye, suddenly growing wings and flying off into the sky like an eagle.
6 Usile chakula cha yule mwenye jicho baya- na usiwe na shauku ya vinono vyake,
Don't accept meal invitations from miserly people; don't be greedy for their fancy food,
7 maana ni mtu mwenye kuhesabu gharama ya chakula. “Kula na kunywa!” anakuambia, lakini moyo wake haupo pamoja nawe.
for what they're thinking inside is what they really are. They say, “Come on, eat and drink!”—but in their minds they don't really care about you.
8 Utatapika kiasi kidogo ulichokula na utakuwa umepoteza sifa zako njema.
You'll vomit up the little pieces you've eaten, and your kind words of appreciation will be wasted.
9 Usiongee katika usikivu wa mpumbavu, maana atadharau hekima ya maneno yako.
Don't talk to stupid people because they'll ridicule your wise words.
10 Usihamishe jiwe la mpaka wa kale au kunyang'anya mashamba ya yatima,
Don't move ancient boundary markers, and don't encroach on fields belonging to orphans,
11 maana Mkombozi wao ni imara na atatetea kesi yao dhidi yako.
for their Protector is powerful and he will plead their case against you.
12 Elekeza moyo wako katika mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
Focus your mind on instruction; listen intently to words of knowledge.
13 Usizuie kuadilisha mtoto, maana ukimchapa kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Don't keep from disciplining your children—a beating won't kill them.
14 Ni wewe unayepaswa kumchapa kwa fimbo na kuikoa nafsi yake kuzimu. (Sheol h7585)
If you use physical correction you can save them from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una busara, basi moyo wangu utafurahi pia;
My son, if you think wisely then I'll be happy;
16 sehemu zangu ndani kabisa zitafurahi sana midomo yako inaponena haki.
I'll be delighted when you say what's right.
17 Usiruhusu moyo wako kuwahusudu wenye dhambi, lakini endelea kumcha Yehova siku zote.
Don't think enviously of sinners, but always remember to honor the Lord,
18 Hakika tumaini lako halitaondolewa na siku zako za hapo baadaye.
for there's definitely a future for you, and your hope will not be crushed.
19 Sikia- wewe! - mwanangu, na uwe mwenye busara na uelekeze moyo wako katika njia.
Pay attention, my son, and be wise; make sure your mind concentrates on following the right way.
20 Usishirikiane pamoja na walevi, au pamoja na walaji wa nyama walafi,
Don't join in with people who drink too much wine or who stuff themselves with meat.
21 maana mlevi na mlafi wanakuwa masikini na usingizi utawavika kwa matambara.
For people who get drunk and overeat lose all they've got, and they spend so much time dozing that all they have left to wear is rags.
22 Msikilize baba yako ambaye alikuzaa na usimdharau mama yako wakati akiwa mzee.
Pay attention to your father, and don't disregard your mother when she's old.
23 Inunue kweli, lakini usiiuze; nunua hekima, nidhamu, na ufahamu.
Invest in truth—and don't sell it! Invest in wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24 Baba yake mwenye haki atafurahia sana, na yule amzaaye mtoto mwenye busara atamfurahia.
Children who do right make their fathers very happy; a wise son brings joy to his father.
25 Mfurahishe baba yako na mama yako na yule aliyekuzaa afurahie.
Make your father and mother happy; bring joy to her who gave birth to you.
26 Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako na macho yako yachunguze njia zangu.
My son, give me your undivided attention, and cheerfully follow my example.
27 Maana malaya ni shimo refu, na mke wa mume mwingine ni kisima chembamba.
A prostitute is like being trapped in a pit; an immoral woman is like getting stuck a narrow well,
28 Anavizia kama mnyang'anyi na huongeza idadi ya wadanganyifu miongoni mwa wanadamu.
Like a robber, she lies in wait ready to ambush men and make more of them unfaithful to their wives.
29 Nani mwenye taabu? Nani mwenye huzuni? Nani mwenye mapigano? Nani mwenye malalamiko? Nani mwenye majeraha bila sababu? Nani mwenye macho mekundu?
Who's in trouble? Who's in pain? Who's arguing? Who's complaining? Who's injured for no reason? Who's got bloodshot eyes?
30 Ni wale ambao huzengea kwenye mvinyo, wale wanaojaribu kuchanganya mvinyo.
—those who spend a long time drinking wine, those who are always trying some new cocktail.
31 Usiutazame mvinyo ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unametameta kwenye kikombe na kutelemka kwa uraini.
Don't let the look of wine tempt you—how red it is, how it sparkles in the cup, how smooth it feels as it goes down.
32 Mwisho wake unauma kama nyoka na sumu yake kama kifutu.
In the end it bites like a serpent, it stings like a snake.
33 Macho yako yataona vitu vigeni na moyo wako utatamka vitu vya ukaidi.
You'll hallucinate, seeing strange things, and your confused mind will make you say all kinds of craziness.
34 Utakuwa kama anayelala kwenye bahari au anayelala juu ya mlingoti. “
You'll stumble around like you're on the rolling ocean, you'll be tossed about like someone lying down at the top of a ship's mast, saying,
35 Wamenipiga,” utasema, “lakini sikuumia. Wamenichapa, lakini sikuwa na hisia. Nitaamka lini? Nitatafuta kinywaji kingine.”
“People punched me, but it didn't hurt me; they beat me, but I didn't feel a thing. I've got to get up because I need another drink.”

< Mithali 23 >