Mithali 24
1 Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
Don’t be envious of evil 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 hearts plot violence and their lips talk about mischief.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
Through wisdom a house is built; 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 rare and beautiful treasure.
5 Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
A wise man has great power. A knowledgeable man increases strength,
6 maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
for by wise guidance you wage your war, and victory is in many advisors.
7 Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
Wisdom is too high for a fool. He doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
8 Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
One who plots to do evil will be called a schemer.
9 Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.
10 Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
If you falter in the time of trouble, your strength is small.
11 Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, 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 didn’t know this,” doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every 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, for it is good, the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste;
14 Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul. If you have found it, then there will be a reward: Your hope will not be cut off.
15 Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place;
16 Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
for a righteous man falls seven times and rises up again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
17 Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls. Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown,
18 au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19 Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
Don’t fret yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious of the wicked;
20 maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
for there will be no reward to the evil man. The lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21 Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
My son, fear the LORD and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious,
22 maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
for their calamity will rise suddenly. Who knows what destruction may come from them both?
23 Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24 Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,” peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
25 Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
26 Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
An honest answer is like 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 work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.
28 Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
Don’t be a witness against your neighbor without cause. Don’t deceive with your lips.
29 Usiseme, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30 Nilikwenda jirani na shamba la mtu mvivu, nikapita kwenye shamba la mzabibu la mtu asiye na akili.
I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding.
31 Miiba imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
Behold, it was all grown over with thorns. Its surface 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 well. I saw, 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 sleep,
34 na umasikini huja kwa kutembea juu yako, na mahitaji yako kama askari mwenye silaha.
so your poverty will come as a robber and your want as an armed man.
