Mithali 3
1 Mwanangu, usizisahau amri zangu na uyatunze mafundisho yangu katika moyo wako,
[My] son, forget not my laws; but let thine heart keep my words:
2 maana ziatakuongezea siku zako na miaka ya maisha yako na amani.
for length of existence, and years of life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
3 Usiache utiifu wa agano na uaminifu viondoke kwako, vifunge katika shingo yako, viandike katika vibao vya moyo wako.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; but bind them about thy neck:
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na heshima mbele Mungu na wanadamu.
so shalt thou find favour: and do thou provide things honest in the sight of the Lord, and of men.
5 Mtegemee Yehova kwa moyo wako wote na wala usitegemee ufahamu wako mwenyewe,
Trust in God with all thine heart; and be not exalted in thine own wisdom.
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri Yeye na yeye atayanyosha mapito yako.
In all thy ways acquaint thyself with her, that she may rightly direct thy paths.
7 Usiwe mwenye busara machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Yehova na jiepushe na uovu.
Be not wise in thine own conceit; but fear God, and depart from all evil.
8 Itakuponya mwili wako na kukuburudisha mwili wako.
Then shall there be health to thy body, and good keeping to thy bones.
9 Mheshimu Yehova kwa utajiri wako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao kwa kila unachozalisha,
Honour the Lord with thy just labours, and give him the first of thy fruits of righteousness:
10 na ndipo ghala zako zitajaa na mapipa makubwa yatafurika kwa divai mpya.
that thy storehouses may be completely filled with corn, and that thy presses may burst forth with wine.
11 Mwanangu, usidharau kuadibishwa na Yohova na wala usichukie karipio lake,
[My] son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
12 maana Yehova huwaadibisha wale wapendao, kama baba anavyoshughulika kwa mtoto wake ampendezaye.
for whom the Lord loves, he rebukes, and scourges every son whom he receives.
13 Yeye apataye hekima anafuraha, naye hupata ufahamu.
Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the mortal who knows prudence.
14 Kwani katika hekima unapata manufaa kuliko ukibadilisha kwa fedha na faida yake inafaa zaidi kuliko dhahabu.
For it is better to traffic for her, than for treasures of gold and silver.
15 Hekima inathamani zaidi kuliko kito, na hakuna unachokitamani kinaweza kulinganishwa na hekima.
And she is more valuable than precious stones: no evil thing shall resist her: she is well known to all that approach her, and no precious thing is equal to her in value.
16 Yeye anasiku nyingi katika mkono wake wa kuume; na mkono wake wa kushoto ni utajiri na heshima.
For length of existence and years of life are in her right hand; and in her left hand are wealth and glory: out of her mouth proceeds righteousness, and she carries law and mercy upon her tongue.
17 Njia zake ni njia za ukarimu na mapito yake ni amani.
Her ways are good ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18 Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomshikilia, wale wanaomshikilia wanafuraha.
She is a tree of life to all that lay hold upon her; and she is [a] secure [help] to all that stay themselves on her, as on the Lord.
19 Kwa hekima Yehova aliweka msingi wa dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziimarisha mbingu.
God by wisdom founded the earth, and by prudence he prepared the heavens.
20 Kwa maarifa yake vina vilipasuka na mawingu kudondosha umande wake.
By understanding were the depths broken up, and the clouds dropped water.
21 Mwanangu, zingatia hukumu ya kweli na ufahamu, na wala usiache kuvitazama.
[My] son, let [them] not pass from [thee], but keep my counsel and understanding:
22 Vitakuwa uzima wa nafsi yako na urembo wa hisani wa kuvaa shingoni mwako.
that thy soul may live, and that there may be grace round thy neck; and it shall be health to thy flesh, and safety to thy bones:
23 Ndipo utatembea katika njia yako kwa usalama na mguu wako hautajikwaa;
that thou mayest go confidently in peace in all thy ways, and that thy foot may not stumble.
24 ulalapo hutaogopa; utakapolala, usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
For if thou rest, thou shalt be undismayed; and if thou sleep, thou shalt slumber sweetly.
25 Usitishwe na hofu ya ghafula au uharibifu uliosababishwa na waovu unapotokea,
And thou shalt not be afraid of alarm coming upon thee, neither of approaching attacks of ungodly men.
26 kwa maana Yehova utakuwa upande wako na ataulinda mguu wako usinaswe kwenye mtego.
For the Lord shall be over all thy ways, and shall establish thy foot that thou be not moved.
27 Usizuie mema kwa wale wanaoyastahili, wakati utendaji upo ndani ya mamlaka yako.
Forbear not to do good to the poor, whensoever thy hand may have [power] to help [him].
28 Jirani yako usimwambie, “Nenda, na uje tena, na kesho nitakupa,” wakati pesa unazo.
Say not, Come back another time, to-morrow I will give; while thou art able to do [him] good: for thou knowest not what the next day will bring forth.
29 Usiweke mpango wa kumdhuru jirani yako- anayeishi jirani nawe na yeye anakuamini.
Devise not evil against thy friend, living near thee and trusting in thee.
30 Usishindane na mtu pasipo sababu, ikiwa hajafanya chochote kukudhuru.
Be not ready to quarrel with a man without a cause, lest he do thee some harm.
31 Usimhusudu mtu jeuri au kuchagua njia zake zozote.
Procure not the reproaches of bad men, neither do thou covet their ways.
32 Maana mtu mjanja ni chukizo kwa Yehova, bali humleta mtu mwaminifu kwenye tumaini lake.
For every transgressor is unclean before the Lord; neither does he sit among the righteous.
33 Laana ya Yehova ipo katika nyumba ya watu waovu, bali huibariki maskani ya watu wenye haki.
The curse of God is in the houses of the ungodly; but the habitations of the just are blessed.
34 Yeye huwadhihaki wenye dhihaka, bali huwapa hisani watu wanyenyekevu.
The Lord resists the proud; but he gives grace to the humble.
35 Watu wenye busara huirithi heshima, bali wapumbavu huinuliwa kwa fedheha yao wenyewe.
The wise shall inherit glory; but the ungodly have exalted [their own] dishonour.
