< Mithali 24 >

1 Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
Do not be envious of those who are evil, nor desire to associate with them,
2 kwa sababu mioyo yao inapanga njama za vurugu na midomo ya huongea juu ya madhara.
because their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about trouble.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
Through wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established.
4 Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
A warrior of wisdom is strong, and a man of knowledge increases his strength;
6 maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
for by wise direction you can wage your war and with many advisors there is victory.
7 Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
Wisdom is too high for a fool; in the gate he does not open his mouth.
8 Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
There is one who plans to do evil— people call him a master of schemes.
9 Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
A foolish plan is sin and men despise a mocker.
10 Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
If you become weak with fear in the day of trouble, then your strength is small.
11 Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
Rescue those who are being taken away to death and hold back those who are staggering 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?
If you say, “Behold, we knew nothing about this,” does not the one who weighs the heart understand what you are saying? The one who guards your life, does he not know it? Will God not give to each one what he deserves?
13 Mwanangu, kula asali kwa kuwa ni nzuri, kwa sababu matone ya sega la asali ni matamu unapoonja.
My son, eat honey because it is good, because the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
Such is wisdom for your soul— if you find it, there will be a future and your hope will not be cut off.
15 Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
Do not lie in wait like the wicked person who attacks the house of the righteous person. Do not destroy his home!
16 Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
For the righteous person falls down seven times and rises again, but wicked people are brought down by calamity.
17 Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
Do not celebrate when your enemy falls and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18 au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
or Yahweh will see and disapprove and turn away his wrath from him.
19 Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
Do not worry because of evildoers, and do not envy wicked people,
20 maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
for the evil person has no future and the lamp of wicked people will go out.
21 Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
Fear Yahweh, and fear the king, my son; do not associate with those who rebel against them,
22 maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
for suddenly their disaster will come and who knows the extent of the destruction that will come from both of them?
23 Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality in judging a case at law is not good.
24 Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
Whoever says to the wicked person, “You are a righteous person,” will be cursed by peoples and hated by nations.
25 Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
But those who discipline the wicked will have delight and gifts of goodness will come to them.
26 Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
The one who gives an honest answer gives a kiss on the lips.
27 Andaa kazi yako ya nje, na tayarisha kila kitu kwa ajili yako mwenyewe shambani; baada ya hapo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare your outdoor work, and make everything ready for yourself in the field; after that, build your house.
28 Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
Do not bear witness against your neighbor without cause and do not deceive with your lips.
29 Usiseme, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
Do not say, “I will do to him what he has done to me; I will pay him back for what he has done.”
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 lazy man, past the vineyard of the man having no sense.
31 Miiba imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
Thorns had grown up everywhere, the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
Then I saw and considered it; I looked and 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.
and poverty comes marching upon you, and your needs like an armed soldier.

< Mithali 24 >