Mithali 3
1 Mwanangu, usizisahau amri zangu na uyatunze mafundisho yangu katika moyo wako,
My son, do not forget what I have taught you. Keep my commands in your inner being,
2 maana ziatakuongezea siku zako na miaka ya maisha yako na amani.
because [if you obey them] you will live a long time and things will go well for you
3 Usiache utiifu wa agano na uaminifu viondoke kwako, vifunge katika shingo yako, viandike katika vibao vya moyo wako.
Always faithfully love others and (be faithful/do what you say that you will do); doing those things [will cause others to be pleased with you]; it will be as though you are wearing a beautiful necklace. Keep those things in your mind/inner being.
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na heshima mbele Mungu na wanadamu.
If you do, God and people will approve of you and think highly of you [MTY].
5 Mtegemee Yehova kwa moyo wako wote na wala usitegemee ufahamu wako mwenyewe,
Trust in Yahweh completely, and do not rely on what you yourself understand.
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri Yeye na yeye atayanyosha mapito yako.
Always allow him to lead you. If you do that, he will (show you the right path/direct your life).
7 Usiwe mwenye busara machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Yehova na jiepushe na uovu.
Do not be proud of being wise. [Instead], revere Yahweh and turn away from doing evil.
8 Itakuponya mwili wako na kukuburudisha mwili wako.
If you do that, your body will be healthy/strong; it will be [like] medicine for you.
9 Mheshimu Yehova kwa utajiri wako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao kwa kila unachozalisha,
Honor Yahweh by [what you do with] your money; and [by giving him] the first part of your harvest.
10 na ndipo ghala zako zitajaa na mapipa makubwa yatafurika kwa divai mpya.
If you do that, [you will have a good harvest]. Yahweh will fill your barns [with grain], and your vats/containers will be overflowing with [grape juice for making] wine.
11 Mwanangu, usidharau kuadibishwa na Yohova na wala usichukie karipio lake,
My son, when Yahweh disciplines/corrects you, do not despise it, and if he rebukes you, do not resent it.
12 maana Yehova huwaadibisha wale wapendao, kama baba anavyoshughulika kwa mtoto wake ampendezaye.
[I say that] because it is the people whom Yahweh loves that he corrects/reproves, [just] like parents correct/reprove their sons whom they love.
13 Yeye apataye hekima anafuraha, naye hupata ufahamu.
[Yahweh] is pleased with those who become wise and have good understanding.
14 Kwani katika hekima unapata manufaa kuliko ukibadilisha kwa fedha na faida yake inafaa zaidi kuliko dhahabu.
Being wise and having good understanding is worth more than silver, better than gold.
15 Hekima inathamani zaidi kuliko kito, na hakuna unachokitamani kinaweza kulinganishwa na hekima.
Being wise is more precious than (jewels/precious stones); there is nothing that you could desire [that would be as valuable] as wisdom.
16 Yeye anasiku nyingi katika mkono wake wa kuume; na mkono wake wa kushoto ni utajiri na heshima.
On the one hand, wisdom [PRS] enables [you] to live a long life, and on the other hand, wisdom enables [you] to become rich and to be honored.
17 Njia zake ni njia za ukarimu na mapito yake ni amani.
If [you] are wise, [your] life will be pleasant, and things will go well [for you].
18 Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwa wale wanaomshikilia, wale wanaomshikilia wanafuraha.
Wisdom is [like] a tree that gives long life to those who [eagerly] take hold of it, and [Yahweh] is pleased with those who hold onto it tightly.
19 Kwa hekima Yehova aliweka msingi wa dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziimarisha mbingu.
By his wisdom Yahweh created the earth, and by his understanding he put everything in the skies.
20 Kwa maarifa yake vina vilipasuka na mawingu kudondosha umande wake.
By his knowledge [he caused] the water that was beneath the earth to burst forth, and he caused rain to fall from the clouds.
21 Mwanangu, zingatia hukumu ya kweli na ufahamu, na wala usiache kuvitazama.
My son, [always] keep doing things that are right and things that are smart. If you do that,
22 Vitakuwa uzima wa nafsi yako na urembo wa hisani wa kuvaa shingoni mwako.
you will live [many years] and be honored and respected {people will honor and respect you}.
23 Ndipo utatembea katika njia yako kwa usalama na mguu wako hautajikwaa;
If you do what is right and wise, you will [be able to] walk safely, and you will not (stumble/do things that are wrong) [MET].
24 ulalapo hutaogopa; utakapolala, usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
You will [be able to] lie down [at night] and not be afraid [of anything], and you will sleep peacefully.
25 Usitishwe na hofu ya ghafula au uharibifu uliosababishwa na waovu unapotokea,
You will not be afraid that something disastrous will happen to you or that storms that strike the wicked will strike you,
26 kwa maana Yehova utakuwa upande wako na ataulinda mguu wako usinaswe kwenye mtego.
because you will be confident that Yahweh [will take care of you]. He will not let your foot be caught in a trap/snare.
27 Usizuie mema kwa wale wanaoyastahili, wakati utendaji upo ndani ya mamlaka yako.
If you are able to help people who deserve it, do not refuse to help them.
28 Jirani yako usimwambie, “Nenda, na uje tena, na kesho nitakupa,” wakati pesa unazo.
If you are able to help someone you interact with, do not say, “Come back later; [perhaps] I can help you tomorrow.”
29 Usiweke mpango wa kumdhuru jirani yako- anayeishi jirani nawe na yeye anakuamini.
Do not make plans to harm those you interact with regularly, [because] they live near you, and they trust you.
30 Usishindane na mtu pasipo sababu, ikiwa hajafanya chochote kukudhuru.
If someone has not harmed you, do not accuse him [by saying that he has harmed you].
31 Usimhusudu mtu jeuri au kuchagua njia zake zozote.
Do not envy people who [obtain things by] violent actions, and do not imitate/do what they do.
32 Maana mtu mjanja ni chukizo kwa Yehova, bali humleta mtu mwaminifu kwenye tumaini lake.
[I say that] because Yahweh considers such people to be abominable/detestable; but he is a friend to [all] those who do what is right.
33 Laana ya Yehova ipo katika nyumba ya watu waovu, bali huibariki maskani ya watu wenye haki.
Yahweh curses the families [MTY] of those who are wicked, but he blesses the families of those who are good/righteous.
34 Yeye huwadhihaki wenye dhihaka, bali huwapa hisani watu wanyenyekevu.
Yahweh makes fun of those who make fun [of others], but he kindly helps those who are humble.
35 Watu wenye busara huirithi heshima, bali wapumbavu huinuliwa kwa fedheha yao wenyewe.
Wise [people] will be honored {people will honor wise people}, but foolish people will be dishonored/disgraced.
