Mithali 3
1 Mwanangu, usizisahau amri zangu na uyatunze mafundisho yangu katika moyo wako,
My son, mine instruction, do not thou forget, and, my commandment, let thy heart observe;
2 maana ziatakuongezea siku zako na miaka ya maisha yako na amani.
For, length of days and years of life, and blessedness, shall they add to thee.
3 Usiache utiifu wa agano na uaminifu viondoke kwako, vifunge katika shingo yako, viandike katika vibao vya moyo wako.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, let them not forsake thee, —bind them, upon thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na heshima mbele Mungu na wanadamu.
So find thou favour and good repute, in the eyes of God and man.
5 Mtegemee Yehova kwa moyo wako wote na wala usitegemee ufahamu wako mwenyewe,
Trust thou in Yahweh, with all thy heart, and, unto thine own understanding, do not lean:
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri Yeye na yeye atayanyosha mapito yako.
In all thy ways, acknowledge him, and, he, will make straight thy paths.
7 Usiwe mwenye busara machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Yehova na jiepushe na uovu.
Do not become wise in thine own eyes, revere Yahweh, and avoid evil:
8 Itakuponya mwili wako na kukuburudisha mwili wako.
Healing, shall it be to thy body, and refreshing, to thy bones.
9 Mheshimu Yehova kwa utajiri wako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao kwa kila unachozalisha,
Honour thou Yahweh, with thy substance, and with the firstfruit of all thine increase;
10 na ndipo ghala zako zitajaa na mapipa makubwa yatafurika kwa divai mpya.
So shall thy storehouses be filled with plenty, and, with new wine, shall thy vats overflow.
11 Mwanangu, usidharau kuadibishwa na Yohova na wala usichukie karipio lake,
The, chastening of Yahweh, my son, do not reject, nor loathe his rebuke;
12 maana Yehova huwaadibisha wale wapendao, kama baba anavyoshughulika kwa mtoto wake ampendezaye.
For, whom Yahweh loveth, he correcteth, he causeth pain to the son in whom he delighteth.
13 Yeye apataye hekima anafuraha, naye hupata ufahamu.
How happy the man who hath found wisdom, and the man who draweth forth understanding,
14 Kwani katika hekima unapata manufaa kuliko ukibadilisha kwa fedha na faida yake inafaa zaidi kuliko dhahabu.
For better is her merchandise, than the merchandise of silver, yea, than gold, her increase;
15 Hekima inathamani zaidi kuliko kito, na hakuna unachokitamani kinaweza kulinganishwa na hekima.
More precious, is she, than corals, yea, none of thy delightful things, doth equal her:
16 Yeye anasiku nyingi katika mkono wake wa kuume; na mkono wake wa kushoto ni utajiri na heshima.
Length of days, is in her right hand, in her left, are riches and honour;
17 Njia zake ni njia za ukarimu na mapito yake ni amani.
Her ways, are ways of pleasantness, and, all her paths, are peace;
18 Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomshikilia, wale wanaomshikilia wanafuraha.
A tree of life, is she, to them who secure her, —and, they who hold her fast, are every one to be pronounced happy.
19 Kwa hekima Yehova aliweka msingi wa dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziimarisha mbingu.
Yahweh, in wisdom, founded the earth, establishing the heavens with understanding;
20 Kwa maarifa yake vina vilipasuka na mawingu kudondosha umande wake.
By his knowledge, the resounding deeps were burst open, and, the skies, drop down dew.
21 Mwanangu, zingatia hukumu ya kweli na ufahamu, na wala usiache kuvitazama.
My son, let them not depart from thine eyes, guard thou counsel, and purpose:
22 Vitakuwa uzima wa nafsi yako na urembo wa hisani wa kuvaa shingoni mwako.
So shall they become life to thy soul, and an adorning to thy neck;
23 Ndipo utatembea katika njia yako kwa usalama na mguu wako hautajikwaa;
Then, shalt thou walk securely in thy way, and, thy foot, shall not stumble;
24 ulalapo hutaogopa; utakapolala, usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
When thou sittest down, thou shalt have no dread, yea thou shalt lie down, and sweet shall be thy sleep.
25 Usitishwe na hofu ya ghafula au uharibifu uliosababishwa na waovu unapotokea,
Be not thou afraid of sudden dread, nor of the desolation of the lawless, when it cometh.
26 kwa maana Yehova utakuwa upande wako na ataulinda mguu wako usinaswe kwenye mtego.
For, Yahweh, will be in all thy ways, and will keep thy foot from the snare.
27 Usizuie mema kwa wale wanaoyastahili, wakati utendaji upo ndani ya mamlaka yako.
Withhold not good from them who ask it, when it is in power of thy hand to do it:
28 Jirani yako usimwambie, “Nenda, na uje tena, na kesho nitakupa,” wakati pesa unazo.
Do not say to thy neighbour, Go and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee.
29 Usiweke mpango wa kumdhuru jirani yako- anayeishi jirani nawe na yeye anakuamini.
Devise not against thy neighbour an injury, seeing that, he, dwelleth securely by thee.
30 Usishindane na mtu pasipo sababu, ikiwa hajafanya chochote kukudhuru.
Contend not with a man without cause, if he hath dealt thee no wrong.
31 Usimhusudu mtu jeuri au kuchagua njia zake zozote.
Do not thou envy the man of violence, neither choose thou any of his ways;
32 Maana mtu mjanja ni chukizo kwa Yehova, bali humleta mtu mwaminifu kwenye tumaini lake.
For, an abomination to Yahweh, is the tortuous man, but, with the upright, he is intimate.
33 Laana ya Yehova ipo katika nyumba ya watu waovu, bali huibariki maskani ya watu wenye haki.
The curse of Yahweh, is in the house of the lawless one, but, the home of the righteous, he blesseth.
34 Yeye huwadhihaki wenye dhihaka, bali huwapa hisani watu wanyenyekevu.
Though at scoffers he scoffeth, yet, to the humbled, he granteth favour.
35 Watu wenye busara huirithi heshima, bali wapumbavu huinuliwa kwa fedheha yao wenyewe.
Honour, shall the wise inherit, —but, as for dullards, shame shall carry them away.
