Mithali 24
1 Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
2 kwa sababu mioyo yao inapanga njama za vurugu na midomo ya huongea juu ya madhara.
for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
4 Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
5 Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
6 maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
7 Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
8 Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9 Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
10 Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
11 Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
12 Kama utasema, “Tazama, hatujui chochote juu ya hili,” je yule anayepima mioyo hajui unachosema? Na yule anayelinda maisha yako, je hajui? Je Mungu hatampa kila mmoja kile anachostahili?
If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
13 Mwanangu, kula asali kwa kuwa ni nzuri, kwa sababu matone ya sega la asali ni matamu unapoonja.
Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
14 Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.
15 Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place.
16 Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
17 Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18 au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
19 Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
20 maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
21 Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
22 maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?
23 Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”— peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
25 Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
26 Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
27 Andaa kazi yako ya nje, na tayarisha kila kitu kwa ajili yako mwenyewe shambani; baada ya hapo, jenga nyumba yako.
Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
28 Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Usiseme, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 Nilikwenda jirani na shamba la mtu mvivu, nikapita kwenye shamba la mzabibu la mtu asiye na akili.
I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
31 Miiba imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.
32 Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
33 Kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, kupumzika kwa kukunja mikono kidogo-
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 na umasikini huja kwa kutembea juu yako, na mahitaji yako kama askari mwenye silaha.
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
