Mithali 24
1 Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
Be not thou envious of wicked men, neither crave to be with them;
2 kwa sababu mioyo yao inapanga njama za vurugu na midomo ya huongea juu ya madhara.
For, violence, their heart muttereth, and, mischief, their lips do speak.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
In wisdom, is a house builded, and, in understanding, is it established;
4 Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
And, in knowledge, chambers are filled, with all acquisitions, costly and fair.
5 Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
A wise man, is mighty, and, a man of knowledge, becometh alert in vigour.
6 maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
Surely, with concerted measures, shalt thou make for thyself war, and, success, lieth in the greatness of the counsellor.
7 Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
Unattainable to a foolish man, are the dictates of wisdom, in the gate, he openeth not his mouth.
8 Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
He that deviseth to do mischief, him, shall men call, a master of plots.
9 Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
The purpose of folly, is sin, and, an abomination to mankind, is a buffoon.
10 Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
Thou hast been slothful in the day of straitness, Strait, is thy strength.
11 Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
Deliver thou such as are being led forth to death, and, them who are tottering to slaughter, oh that thou wouldst 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?
Though thou say, Lo! we knew not this, Shall not, he that proveth hearts, himself, discern? And, he that formeth thy soul, himself, know? and bring back to a son of earth according to his deed?
13 Mwanangu, kula asali kwa kuwa ni nzuri, kwa sababu matone ya sega la asali ni matamu unapoonja.
My son, eat thou honey, because it is good, —and droppings from the comb [because they are] sweet to thy palate:
14 Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
Thus, take knowledge of wisdom, for thine own soul; If thou find it, then there is a future, and, thine expectation, shall not be cut off.
15 Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
Do not lie in wait, thou lawless man, against the home of the righteous, —neither destroy thou his place of rest;
16 Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
For, seven times, may the righteous fall and yet arise, but, lawless men, shall stumble into calamity.
17 Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
When thine enemy falleth, do not thou rejoice, and, when he stumbleth, let not thy heart exult:
18 au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
Lest Yahweh see it, and it be wicked in his eyes, and he turn away from him his anger.
19 Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
Burn not with vexation against evil doers, be not envious of lawless men;
20 maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
For there shall be no future for the wicked, The lamp of the lawless, shall go out.
21 Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
Revere thou Yahweh, my son, and the king, and, with the fickle, have thou no fellowship;
22 maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
For, suddenly, shall arise their calamity; and, the misfortune of their years, who knoweth?
23 Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
These things also, concern the wise, To take note of faces in judgment, is not good.
24 Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
He that saith to the lawless man, Righteous, thou art, peoples shall denounce him, populations shall curse him;
25 Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
But, to reprovers, one should be pleasant, and, upon them, should come an excellent blessing:
26 Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
Lips, should one kiss with one who answereth in right words.
27 Andaa kazi yako ya nje, na tayarisha kila kitu kwa ajili yako mwenyewe shambani; baada ya hapo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare, in the open, thy work, and make ready, in the field, for thyself, Afterwards, shalt thou build thy house.
28 Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
Do not become a needless witness against thy neighbour, so mightest thou open too wide thy lips:
29 Usiseme, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
Do not say—According to what he hath done to me, so, will I do to him, I will repay every one according to his work.
30 Nilikwenda jirani na shamba la mtu mvivu, nikapita kwenye shamba la mzabibu la mtu asiye na akili.
By the field of the sluggard, I passed, and by the vineyard of a man lacking sense;
31 Miiba imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
And lo! there had come up all over it—thorns, there had covered the face thereof—thistles, and, the stone fence thereof, had been thrown down.
32 Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
So I observed it, for myself, I applied my heart, I looked—I accepted correction:
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 come in, as a highwayman, thy poverty, and, thy want, as one armed with a shield.
