Mithali 23
1 Unapoketi kula pamoja na mtawala, angalia kwa uangalifu kilichopo mbele yako,
When thou sittest to eate with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee,
2 na kama ni mtu unayependa kula chakula sana weka kisu kooni.
And put the knife to thy throte, if thou be a man giuen to the appetite.
3 Usitamani vinono vyake maana ni chakula cha uongo.
Be not desirous of his deintie meates: for it is a deceiuable meate.
4 Usifanye kazi sana ili kupata mali; uwe na busara ya kutosha ili ujue wakati wa kuacha.
Trauaile not too much to be rich: but cease from thy wisdome.
5 Je utaruhusu macho yako yaangaze juu yake? Itaondoka, maana itawaa mabawa kama tai na kuruka angani.
Wilt thou cast thine eyes vpon it, which is nothing? for riches taketh her to her wings, as an eagle, and flyeth into the heauen.
6 Usile chakula cha yule mwenye jicho baya- na usiwe na shauku ya vinono vyake,
Eate thou not the bread of him that hath an euil eye, neither desire his deintie meates.
7 maana ni mtu mwenye kuhesabu gharama ya chakula. “Kula na kunywa!” anakuambia, lakini moyo wake haupo pamoja nawe.
For as though he thought it in his heart, so will hee say vnto thee, Eate and drinke: but his heart is not with thee.
8 Utatapika kiasi kidogo ulichokula na utakuwa umepoteza sifa zako njema.
Thou shalt vomit thy morsels that thou hast eaten, and thou shalt lose thy sweete wordes.
9 Usiongee katika usikivu wa mpumbavu, maana atadharau hekima ya maneno yako.
Speake not in the eares of a foole: for hee will despise the wisdome of thy wordes.
10 Usihamishe jiwe la mpaka wa kale au kunyang'anya mashamba ya yatima,
Remooue not the ancient boundes, and enter not into the fieldes of the fatherlesse.
11 maana Mkombozi wao ni imara na atatetea kesi yao dhidi yako.
For he that redeemeth them, is mightie: he will defend their cause against thee.
12 Elekeza moyo wako katika mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
Apply thine heart to instruction, and thine eares to the wordes of knowledge.
13 Usizuie kuadilisha mtoto, maana ukimchapa kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Withhold not correction from the childe: if thou smite him with the rodde, he shall not die.
Thou shalt smite him with the rodde, and shalt deliuer his soule from hell. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una busara, basi moyo wangu utafurahi pia;
My sonne, if thine heart be wise, mine heart shall reioyce, and I also.
16 sehemu zangu ndani kabisa zitafurahi sana midomo yako inaponena haki.
And my reynes shall reioyce, when thy lips speake righteous things.
17 Usiruhusu moyo wako kuwahusudu wenye dhambi, lakini endelea kumcha Yehova siku zote.
Let not thine heart bee enuious against sinners: but let it bee in the feare of the Lord continually.
18 Hakika tumaini lako halitaondolewa na siku zako za hapo baadaye.
For surely there is an ende, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
19 Sikia- wewe! - mwanangu, na uwe mwenye busara na uelekeze moyo wako katika njia.
O thou my sonne, heare, and bee wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
20 Usishirikiane pamoja na walevi, au pamoja na walaji wa nyama walafi,
Keepe not company with drunkards, nor with gluttons.
21 maana mlevi na mlafi wanakuwa masikini na usingizi utawavika kwa matambara.
For the drunkard and the glutton shall bee poore, and the sleeper shalbe clothed with ragges.
22 Msikilize baba yako ambaye alikuzaa na usimdharau mama yako wakati akiwa mzee.
Obey thy father that hath begotten thee, and despise not thy mother when she is olde.
23 Inunue kweli, lakini usiiuze; nunua hekima, nidhamu, na ufahamu.
Bye the trueth, but sell it not: likewise wisdome, and instruction, and vnderstanding.
24 Baba yake mwenye haki atafurahia sana, na yule amzaaye mtoto mwenye busara atamfurahia.
The father of the righteous shall greatly reioyce, and hee that begetteth a wise childe, shall haue ioy of him.
25 Mfurahishe baba yako na mama yako na yule aliyekuzaa afurahie.
Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall reioyce.
26 Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako na macho yako yachunguze njia zangu.
My sonne, giue mee thine heart, and let thine eyes delite in my wayes.
27 Maana malaya ni shimo refu, na mke wa mume mwingine ni kisima chembamba.
For a whore is as a deepe ditche, and a strange woman is as a narrowe pitte.
28 Anavizia kama mnyang'anyi na huongeza idadi ya wadanganyifu miongoni mwa wanadamu.
Also she lyeth in wait as for a praye, and she increaseth the transgressers among men.
29 Nani mwenye taabu? Nani mwenye huzuni? Nani mwenye mapigano? Nani mwenye malalamiko? Nani mwenye majeraha bila sababu? Nani mwenye macho mekundu?
To whome is woe? to whome is sorowe? to whom is strife? to whom is murmuring? to whom are woundes without cause? and to whome is the rednesse of the eyes?
30 Ni wale ambao huzengea kwenye mvinyo, wale wanaojaribu kuchanganya mvinyo.
Euen to them that tarie long at the wine, to them that goe, and seeke mixt wine.
31 Usiutazame mvinyo ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unametameta kwenye kikombe na kutelemka kwa uraini.
Looke not thou vpon the wine, when it is red, and when it sheweth his colour in the cup, or goeth downe pleasantly.
32 Mwisho wake unauma kama nyoka na sumu yake kama kifutu.
In the ende thereof it will bite like a serpent, and hurt like a cockatrise.
33 Macho yako yataona vitu vigeni na moyo wako utatamka vitu vya ukaidi.
Thine eyes shall looke vpon strange women, and thine heart shall speake lewde things.
34 Utakuwa kama anayelala kwenye bahari au anayelala juu ya mlingoti. “
And thou shalt bee as one that sleepeth in the middes of the sea, and as hee that sleepeth in the toppe of the maste.
35 Wamenipiga,” utasema, “lakini sikuumia. Wamenichapa, lakini sikuwa na hisia. Nitaamka lini? Nitatafuta kinywaji kingine.”
They haue stricken mee, shalt thou say, but I was not sicke: they haue beaten mee, but I knew not, when I awoke: therefore will I seeke it yet still.
