Mithali 3
1 Mwanangu, usizisahau amri zangu na uyatunze mafundisho yangu katika moyo wako,
My son! my law forget not, And my commands let thy heart keep,
2 maana ziatakuongezea siku zako na miaka ya maisha yako na amani.
For length of days and years, Life and peace they do add to thee.
3 Usiache utiifu wa agano na uaminifu viondoke kwako, vifunge katika shingo yako, viandike katika vibao vya moyo wako.
Let not kindness and truth forsake thee, Bind them on thy neck, Write them on the tablet of thy heart,
4 Ndipo utapata kibali na heshima mbele Mungu na wanadamu.
And find grace and good understanding In the eyes of God and man.
5 Mtegemee Yehova kwa moyo wako wote na wala usitegemee ufahamu wako mwenyewe,
Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, And unto thine own understanding lean not.
6 katika njia zako zote mkiri Yeye na yeye atayanyosha mapito yako.
In all thy ways know thou Him, And He doth make straight thy paths.
7 Usiwe mwenye busara machoni pako mwenyewe; mche Yehova na jiepushe na uovu.
Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.
8 Itakuponya mwili wako na kukuburudisha mwili wako.
Healing it is to thy navel, And moistening to thy bones.
9 Mheshimu Yehova kwa utajiri wako na kwa malimbuko ya mazao kwa kila unachozalisha,
Honour Jehovah from thy substance, And from the beginning of all thine increase;
10 na ndipo ghala zako zitajaa na mapipa makubwa yatafurika kwa divai mpya.
And filled are thy barns [with] plenty, And [with] new wine thy presses break forth.
11 Mwanangu, usidharau kuadibishwa na Yohova na wala usichukie karipio lake,
Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,
12 maana Yehova huwaadibisha wale wapendao, kama baba anavyoshughulika kwa mtoto wake ampendezaye.
For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.
13 Yeye apataye hekima anafuraha, naye hupata ufahamu.
O the happiness of a man [who] hath found wisdom, And of a man [who] bringeth 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, And than gold — her increase.
15 Hekima inathamani zaidi kuliko kito, na hakuna unachokitamani kinaweza kulinganishwa na hekima.
Precious she [is] above rubies, And all thy pleasures are not comparable to 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] wealth 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 she [is] to those laying hold on her, And whoso is retaining her [is] happy.
19 Kwa hekima Yehova aliweka msingi wa dunia, kwa ufahamu aliziimarisha mbingu.
Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.
20 Kwa maarifa yake vina vilipasuka na mawingu kudondosha umande wake.
By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.
21 Mwanangu, zingatia hukumu ya kweli na ufahamu, na wala usiache kuvitazama.
My son! let them not turn from thine eyes, Keep thou wisdom and thoughtfulness,
22 Vitakuwa uzima wa nafsi yako na urembo wa hisani wa kuvaa shingoni mwako.
And they are life to thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
23 Ndipo utatembea katika njia yako kwa usalama na mguu wako hautajikwaa;
Then thou goest thy way confidently, And thy foot doth not stumble.
24 ulalapo hutaogopa; utakapolala, usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
If thou liest down, thou art not afraid, Yea, thou hast lain down, And sweet hath been thy sleep.
25 Usitishwe na hofu ya ghafula au uharibifu uliosababishwa na waovu unapotokea,
Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.
26 kwa maana Yehova utakuwa upande wako na ataulinda mguu wako usinaswe kwenye mtego.
For Jehovah is at thy side, And He hath kept thy foot from capture.
27 Usizuie mema kwa wale wanaoyastahili, wakati utendaji upo ndani ya mamlaka yako.
Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand [is] toward God to do [it].
28 Jirani yako usimwambie, “Nenda, na uje tena, na kesho nitakupa,” wakati pesa unazo.
Say not thou to thy friend, 'Go, and return, and to-morrow I give,' And substance with thee.
29 Usiweke mpango wa kumdhuru jirani yako- anayeishi jirani nawe na yeye anakuamini.
Devise not against thy neighbour evil, And he sitting confidently with thee.
30 Usishindane na mtu pasipo sababu, ikiwa hajafanya chochote kukudhuru.
Strive not with a man without cause, If he have not done thee evil.
31 Usimhusudu mtu jeuri au kuchagua njia zake zozote.
Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.
32 Maana mtu mjanja ni chukizo kwa Yehova, bali humleta mtu mwaminifu kwenye tumaini lake.
For an abomination to Jehovah [is] the perverted, And with the upright [is] His secret counsel.
33 Laana ya Yehova ipo katika nyumba ya watu waovu, bali huibariki maskani ya watu wenye haki.
The curse of Jehovah [is] in the house of the wicked. And the habitation of the righteous He blesseth.
34 Yeye huwadhihaki wenye dhihaka, bali huwapa hisani watu wanyenyekevu.
If the scorners He doth scorn, Yet to the humble He doth give grace.
35 Watu wenye busara huirithi heshima, bali wapumbavu huinuliwa kwa fedheha yao wenyewe.
Honour do the wise inherit, And fools are bearing away shame!
