< Mithali 24 >

1 Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
Be thou not envious of bad men, and do not long to be with them.
2 kwa sababu mioyo yao inapanga njama za vurugu na midomo ya huongea juu ya madhara.
For their heart meditateth destruction, and of mischief do their lips speak.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
Through wisdom is a house built; and through understanding is it firmly established;
4 Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
And through knowledge are chambers filled with all manner of precious and pleasant wealth.
5 Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
A wise man is [always] in power; and a man of knowledge fortifieth [his] strength.
6 maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
For by wise counsel canst thou conduct thy war; and there is help in a multitude of counsellors.
7 Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: in the gate can he not open his mouth.
8 Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
Him that deviseth to do evil, men call a master of wicked devices.
9 Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
The counsel of folly is sin; and an abomination to men is the scorner.
10 Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
If thou despond on the day of distress, thy strength is small.
11 Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
Deliver those that are taken unto death, and those that are moved away to the slaughter hold back.
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 shouldst say, Behold, we know not this man: lo, he that weigheth hearts will truly regard it, and he that keepeth thy soul will surely know it; and he will give a recompense to man according to his doing.
13 Mwanangu, kula asali kwa kuwa ni nzuri, kwa sababu matone ya sega la asali ni matamu unapoonja.
Eat honey, my son, because it is good; and the fine honey, which is sweet to thy palate:
14 Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
So obtain the knowledge of wisdom for thy soul: when thou hast found her, then shall there be a [happy] future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
15 Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
Lie not in wait, O wicked man! against the dwelling of the righteous; waste not his resting-place;
16 Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
For though the righteous were to fall seven times, he will rise up again; but the wicked shall stumble into misfortune.
17 Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
At the fall of thy enemy do not rejoice; and at his stumbling let not thy heart be glad:
18 au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
Lest the Lord see it and it be displeasing in his eyes, and he turn away from him his wrath.
19 Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
Fret not thyself because of evil-doers, neither be thou envious of the wicked;
20 maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
For there will be no [happy] future for the bad man: the lamp of the wicked will be quenched.
21 Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
My son, fear the Lord and the king: with those that are desirous to change do not mingle thyself;
22 maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
For suddenly will their calamity arise; and who knoweth the ruin of both of them!
23 Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
These things also are for the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24 Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
Him that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous, will the people denounce, him will nations hold accursed;
25 Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
But to those that punish delight shall be given, and upon them shall come the blessing of the good.
26 Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
Men will kiss the lips of him that giveth a proper answer.
27 Andaa kazi yako ya nje, na tayarisha kila kitu kwa ajili yako mwenyewe shambani; baada ya hapo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare without thy work, and make it fit in the field for thyself: and afterward build thy house.
28 Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
Be not without cause a witness against thy neighbor; for wouldst thou beguile with thy lips?
29 Usiseme, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
Say not, As he hath done to me so will I do to him: I will recompense every man according to his doing.
30 Nilikwenda jirani na shamba la mtu mvivu, nikapita kwenye shamba la mzabibu la mtu asiye na akili.
By the field of a slothful man I once passed along, and by the vineyard of a man void of sense:
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 thorns, nettles had covered its surface, and its stone-wall was broken down.
32 Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
And when I had indeed beheld [this] I took it to my heart: I saw it, and received a warning.
33 Kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, kupumzika kwa kukunja mikono kidogo-
“A little [more] sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands in lying down;”
34 na umasikini huja kwa kutembea juu yako, na mahitaji yako kama askari mwenye silaha.
But then will thy poverty come like a rover; and thy wants as a man armed with a shield.

< Mithali 24 >