Mithali 24
1 Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
Be not thou enuious against euill 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 imagineth destruction, and their lippes speake mischiefe.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
Through wisdome is an house builded, and with vnderstanding it is established.
4 Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
And by knowledge shall the chambers bee filled with all precious, and pleasant riches.
5 Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
A wise man is strong: for a man of vnderstanding encreaseth his strength.
6 maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
For with counsel thou shalt enterprise thy warre, and in the multitude of them that can giue counsell, is health.
7 Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
Wisdome is hie to a foole: therefore he can not open his mouth in the gate.
8 Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
Hee that imagineth to doe euill, men shall call him an autour of wickednes.
9 Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
The wicked thought of a foole is sinne, and the scorner is an abomination vnto men.
10 Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
If thou bee faint in the day of aduersitie, thy strength is small.
11 Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
Deliuer them that are drawen to death: wilt thou not preserue them that are led to be slaine?
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 say, Beholde, we knew not of it: he that pondereth the heartes, doeth not hee vnderstand it? and hee that keepeth thy soule, knoweth he it not? will not he also recompense euery man according to his workes?
13 Mwanangu, kula asali kwa kuwa ni nzuri, kwa sababu matone ya sega la asali ni matamu unapoonja.
My sonne, eate hony, for it is good, and the hony combe, for it is sweete vnto thy mouth.
14 Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
So shall the knowledge of wisdome be vnto thy soule, if thou finde it, and there shall be an ende, and thine hope shall not be cut off.
15 Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
Laye no waite, O wicked man, against the house of the righteous, and spoyle not his resting place.
16 Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
For a iust man falleth seuen times, and riseth againe: but the wicked fall into mischiefe.
17 Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
Bee thou not glad when thine enemie falleth, and let not thine heart reioyce when hee stumbleth,
18 au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
Least the Lord see it, and it displease him, and he turne his wrath from him.
19 Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
Fret not thy selfe because of the malicious, neither be enuious at the wicked.
20 maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
For there shall bee none ende of plagues to the euill man: the light of the wicked shall bee put out.
21 Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
My sonne feare the Lord, and the King, and meddle not with them that are sedicious.
22 maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
For their destruction shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruine of them both?
23 Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
ALSO THESE THINGS PERTEINE TO THE WISE, It is not good to haue respect of any person in iudgement.
24 Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
He that saith to the wicked, Thou art righteous, him shall the people curse, and the multitude shall abhorre him.
25 Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
But to them that rebuke him, shall be pleasure, and vpon them shall come the blessing of goodnesse.
26 Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
They shall kisse the lippes of him that answereth vpright wordes.
27 Andaa kazi yako ya nje, na tayarisha kila kitu kwa ajili yako mwenyewe shambani; baada ya hapo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare thy worke without, and make readie thy thinges in the fielde, and after, builde thine house.
28 Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
Be not a witnes against thy neighbour without cause: for wilt thou deceiue with thy lippes?
29 Usiseme, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
Say not, I wil doe to him, as he hath done to mee, I will recompence euery man according to his worke.
30 Nilikwenda jirani na shamba la mtu mvivu, nikapita kwenye shamba la mzabibu la mtu asiye na akili.
I passed by the fielde of the slouthfull, and by the vineyarde of the man destitute of vnderstanding.
31 Miiba imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
And lo, it was al growen ouer with thornes, and nettles had couered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken downe.
32 Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
Then I behelde, and I considered it well: I looked vpon it, and receiued instruction.
33 Kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, kupumzika kwa kukunja mikono kidogo-
Yet a litle sleepe, a litle slumber, a litle folding of the handes to sleepe.
34 na umasikini huja kwa kutembea juu yako, na mahitaji yako kama askari mwenye silaha.
So thy pouertie commeth as one that traueileth by the way, and thy necessitie like an armed man.
