< Mithali 24 >
1 Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them;
2 kwa sababu mioyo yao inapanga njama za vurugu na midomo ya huongea juu ya madhara.
for their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
Through wisdom is a house built, and by understanding it is established;
4 Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
and by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant substance.
5 Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
For with good advice shalt thou make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he will not open his mouth in the gate.
8 Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a master of intrigues.
9 Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
The purpose of folly is sin, and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
[If] thou losest courage in the day of trouble, thy strength is small.
11 Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
Deliver them that are taken forth unto death, and withdraw not from them that stagger to 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 thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not, will not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that preserveth thy soul, he knoweth it; and he rendereth to man according to his work.
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 a honeycomb is sweet to thy taste:
14 Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
so consider wisdom for thy soul; if thou hast found it, there shall be a result, and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
15 Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
Lay not wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; lay not waste his resting-place.
16 Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
For the righteous falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked stumble into disaster.
17 Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
18 au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
lest Jehovah see it, and it be evil in his sight, and he turn away his anger from him.
19 Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, [and] be not envious of the wicked:
20 maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
for there shall be no future to the evil [man]; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
My son, fear Jehovah and the king: meddle not with them that are given to change.
22 maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
23 Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
These things also come from the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
24 Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him;
25 Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
but to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing cometh upon them.
26 Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
He kisseth the lips who giveth a right answer.
27 Andaa kazi yako ya nje, na tayarisha kila kitu kwa ajili yako mwenyewe shambani; baada ya hapo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare thy work without, and put thy field in order, and afterwards build thy house.
28 Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?
29 Usiseme, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me, I will render to 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 by the field of a sluggard, and by the vineyard of a man void of understanding;
31 Miiba imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
and lo, it was all grown over with thistles, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
Then I looked, I took it to heart; I saw, I 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.
So shall thy poverty come [as] a roving plunderer, and thy penury as an armed man.