< Mithali 3 >
1 Mwanangu, usizisahau amri zangu na uyatunze mafundisho yangu katika moyo wako,
My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart guard my precepts.
2 maana ziatakuongezea siku zako na miaka ya maisha yako na amani.
For they shall set before you length of days, and years of life, and peace.
3 Usiache utiifu wa agano na uaminifu viondoke kwako, vifunge katika shingo yako, viandike katika vibao vya moyo wako.
Let not mercy and truth abandon you: encircle them around your throat, and inscribe them on the tablets of your heart.
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na heshima mbele Mungu na wanadamu.
And so shall you discover grace and good discipline, in the sight of God and men.
5 Mtegemee Yehova kwa moyo wako wote na wala usitegemee ufahamu wako mwenyewe,
Have confidence in the Lord with all your heart, and do not depend upon your own prudence.
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri Yeye na yeye atayanyosha mapito yako.
In all your ways, consider him, and he himself will direct your steps.
7 Usiwe mwenye busara machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Yehova na jiepushe na uovu.
Do not seem wise to yourself. Fear God, and withdraw from evil.
8 Itakuponya mwili wako na kukuburudisha mwili wako.
Certainly, it shall be health to your navel, and refreshment to your bones.
9 Mheshimu Yehova kwa utajiri wako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao kwa kila unachozalisha,
Honor the Lord with your substance, and give to him from the first of all your fruits,
10 na ndipo ghala zako zitajaa na mapipa makubwa yatafurika kwa divai mpya.
and then your storehouses will be filled with abundance, and your presses shall overflow with wine.
11 Mwanangu, usidharau kuadibishwa na Yohova na wala usichukie karipio lake,
My son, do not discard the discipline of the Lord, and do not fall away when you are corrected by him.
12 maana Yehova huwaadibisha wale wapendao, kama baba anavyoshughulika kwa mtoto wake ampendezaye.
For whomever the Lord loves, he corrects, and just as a father does with a son, he wins him over.
13 Yeye apataye hekima anafuraha, naye hupata ufahamu.
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom and who advances to prudence.
14 Kwani katika hekima unapata manufaa kuliko ukibadilisha kwa fedha na faida yake inafaa zaidi kuliko dhahabu.
Her acquisition is better than trading in silver, and her fruit is better than the first and purest gold.
15 Hekima inathamani zaidi kuliko kito, na hakuna unachokitamani kinaweza kulinganishwa na hekima.
She is more precious than all riches, and all that can be desired cannot prevail in comparison to her.
16 Yeye anasiku nyingi katika mkono wake wa kuume; na mkono wake wa kushoto ni utajiri na heshima.
Length of days is at her right hand, and at her left hand is wealth and glory.
17 Njia zake ni njia za ukarimu na mapito yake ni amani.
Her ways are beautiful 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 those who overtake her, and he who shall take hold of her is blessed.
19 Kwa hekima Yehova aliweka msingi wa dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziimarisha mbingu.
The Lord founded the earth on wisdom. He secured the heavens with prudence.
20 Kwa maarifa yake vina vilipasuka na mawingu kudondosha umande wake.
By his wisdom, the abyss erupted and the clouds increased with dew.
21 Mwanangu, zingatia hukumu ya kweli na ufahamu, na wala usiache kuvitazama.
My son, let not these things move away from your eyes. Preserve law as well as counsel.
22 Vitakuwa uzima wa nafsi yako na urembo wa hisani wa kuvaa shingoni mwako.
And so shall there be life in your soul and grace in your voice.
23 Ndipo utatembea katika njia yako kwa usalama na mguu wako hautajikwaa;
Then you shall walk confidently in your way, and your feet will not stumble.
24 ulalapo hutaogopa; utakapolala, usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
When you slumber, you shall not fear. When you rest, your sleep also will be sweet.
25 Usitishwe na hofu ya ghafula au uharibifu uliosababishwa na waovu unapotokea,
Do not fear unexpected terror, nor the power of the impious falling upon you.
26 kwa maana Yehova utakuwa upande wako na ataulinda mguu wako usinaswe kwenye mtego.
For the Lord will be at your side, and he will guard your feet, so that you may not be seized.
27 Usizuie mema kwa wale wanaoyastahili, wakati utendaji upo ndani ya mamlaka yako.
Do not prevent him who is able from doing good. When you are able, do good yourself too.
28 Jirani yako usimwambie, “Nenda, na uje tena, na kesho nitakupa,” wakati pesa unazo.
Do not say to your friend: “Go away, and then return. Tomorrow I will give to you.” When you are able to do so, give in the present.
29 Usiweke mpango wa kumdhuru jirani yako- anayeishi jirani nawe na yeye anakuamini.
Do not undertake evil against your friend, even though he has trust in you.
30 Usishindane na mtu pasipo sababu, ikiwa hajafanya chochote kukudhuru.
Do not contend against a man without cause, even though he has done no evil to you.
31 Usimhusudu mtu jeuri au kuchagua njia zake zozote.
Do not rival an unjust man, and do not imitate his ways.
32 Maana mtu mjanja ni chukizo kwa Yehova, bali humleta mtu mwaminifu kwenye tumaini lake.
For everyone who ridicules is an abomination to the Lord, and his communication is for the simple.
33 Laana ya Yehova ipo katika nyumba ya watu waovu, bali huibariki maskani ya watu wenye haki.
Destitution in the house of the impious is from the Lord. But the habitations of the just shall be blessed.
34 Yeye huwadhihaki wenye dhihaka, bali huwapa hisani watu wanyenyekevu.
He will ridicule those who ridicule, but he will bestow grace upon the mild.
35 Watu wenye busara huirithi heshima, bali wapumbavu huinuliwa kwa fedheha yao wenyewe.
The wise will possess glory. The exaltation of the foolish is disgraceful.