Mithali 23
1 Unapoketi kula pamoja na mtawala, angalia kwa uangalifu kilichopo mbele yako,
When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
2 na kama ni mtu unayependa kula chakula sana weka kisu kooni.
put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
3 Usitamani vinono vyake maana ni chakula cha uongo.
Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
4 Usifanye kazi sana ili kupata mali; uwe na busara ya kutosha ili ujue wakati wa kuacha.
Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Je utaruhusu macho yako yaangaze juu yake? Itaondoka, maana itawaa mabawa kama tai na kuruka angani.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
6 Usile chakula cha yule mwenye jicho baya- na usiwe na shauku ya vinono vyake,
Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
7 maana ni mtu mwenye kuhesabu gharama ya chakula. “Kula na kunywa!” anakuambia, lakini moyo wake haupo pamoja nawe.
for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “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 the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9 Usiongee katika usikivu wa mpumbavu, maana atadharau hekima ya maneno yako.
Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10 Usihamishe jiwe la mpaka wa kale au kunyang'anya mashamba ya yatima,
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11 maana Mkombozi wao ni imara na atatetea kesi yao dhidi yako.
for their Defender is strong. He will plead 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 the words of knowledge.
13 Usizuie kuadilisha mtoto, maana ukimchapa kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Punish him with the rod, and save 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, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
16 sehemu zangu ndani kabisa zitafurahi sana midomo yako inaponena haki.
Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17 Usiruhusu moyo wako kuwahusudu wenye dhambi, lakini endelea kumcha Yehova siku zote.
Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
18 Hakika tumaini lako halitaondolewa na siku zako za hapo baadaye.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, 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 keep your heart on the right path!
20 Usishirikiane pamoja na walevi, au pamoja na walaji wa nyama walafi,
Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
21 maana mlevi na mlafi wanakuwa masikini na usingizi utawavika kwa matambara.
for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes 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 don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Inunue kweli, lakini usiiuze; nunua hekima, nidhamu, na ufahamu.
Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 Baba yake mwenye haki atafurahia sana, na yule amzaaye mtoto mwenye busara atamfurahia.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Mfurahishe baba yako na mama yako na yule aliyekuzaa afurahie.
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako na macho yako yachunguze njia zangu.
My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep 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 a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Anavizia kama mnyang'anyi na huongeza idadi ya wadanganyifu miongoni mwa wanadamu.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst 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 strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Ni wale ambao huzengea kwenye mvinyo, wale wanaojaribu kuchanganya mvinyo.
Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
31 Usiutazame mvinyo ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unametameta kwenye kikombe na kutelemka kwa uraini.
Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
32 Mwisho wake unauma kama nyoka na sumu yake kama kifutu.
In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons 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 imagine confusing things.
34 Utakuwa kama anayelala kwenye bahari au anayelala juu ya mlingoti. “
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
35 Wamenipiga,” utasema, “lakini sikuumia. Wamenichapa, lakini sikuwa na hisia. Nitaamka lini? Nitatafuta kinywaji kingine.”
“They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
