Mithali 24
1 Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
Do not be envious of evil men, And do not desire to be with them.
2 kwa sababu mioyo yao inapanga njama za vurugu na midomo ya huongea juu ya madhara.
For their heart meditates [on] destruction, And their lips speak perverseness.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
A house is built by wisdom, And it establishes itself by understanding.
4 Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
And the inner parts are filled by knowledge, [With] all precious and pleasant wealth.
5 Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
The wise [is] mighty in strength, And a man of knowledge is strengthening power,
6 maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
For you make war for yourself by plans, And deliverance [is] in a multitude of counselors.
7 Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
Wisdom [is] high for a fool, he does not open his mouth in the gate.
8 Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
Whoever is devising to do evil, They call him a master of wicked thoughts.
9 Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
The thought of folly [is] sin, And a scorner [is] an abomination to man.
10 Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
You have showed yourself weak in a day of adversity, Your power is restricted,
11 Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
If [from] delivering those taken to death, And you take back those slipping to 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?
When you say, “Behold, we did not know this.” Is the Ponderer of hearts not He who understands? And the Keeper of your soul He who knows? And He has rendered to man according to his work.
13 Mwanangu, kula asali kwa kuwa ni nzuri, kwa sababu matone ya sega la asali ni matamu unapoonja.
My son, eat honey that [is] good, And the honeycomb [is] sweet to your palate.
14 Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
So [is] the knowledge of wisdom to your soul, If you have found that there is a posterity And your hope is not cut off.
15 Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
Do not lay wait, O wicked one, At the habitation of the righteous. Do not spoil his resting place.
16 Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
For the righteous fall and rise seven [times], And the wicked stumble in evil.
17 Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
Do not rejoice in the falling of your enemy, And do not let your heart be joyful in his stumbling,
18 au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
Lest YHWH see, and [it be] evil in His eyes, And He has turned His anger from off him.
19 Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
Do not fret yourself at evildoers, do not be envious at the wicked,
20 maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
For there is not a posterity to the evil, The lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
21 Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
Fear YHWH, my son, and the king, Do not mix yourself up with changers,
22 maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
For their calamity rises suddenly, And the ruin of them both—who knows!
23 Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
These are also for the wise: [It] is not good to discern faces in judgment.
24 Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
Whoever is saying to the wicked, “You [are] righteous,” Peoples execrate him—nations abhor him.
25 Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
And it is pleasant to those reproving, And a good blessing comes on them.
26 Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
He who is returning straightforward words kisses lips.
27 Andaa kazi yako ya nje, na tayarisha kila kitu kwa ajili yako mwenyewe shambani; baada ya hapo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare your work in an out-place, And make it ready in the field—go afterward, Then you have built your house.
28 Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
Do not be a witness against your neighbor for nothing, Or you have enticed with your lips.
29 Usiseme, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
Do not say, “As he did to me, so I do to him, I render to each according to his work.”
30 Nilikwenda jirani na shamba la mtu mvivu, nikapita kwenye shamba la mzabibu la mtu asiye na akili.
I passed by near the field of a slothful man, And near the vineyard of a man lacking heart.
31 Miiba imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
And behold, it has gone up—all of it—thorns! Nettles have covered its face, And its stone wall has been broken down.
32 Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
And I see—I set my heart, I have seen—I have 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 lie down.
34 na umasikini huja kwa kutembea juu yako, na mahitaji yako kama askari mwenye silaha.
And your poverty has come [as] a traveler, And your want as an armed man!
