Mithali 30
1 Maneno ya Aguri mwana wa Yake - mausia: Mtu huyu alimwambia Ithieli, kwa Ithiel na Ukali:
The words of Agur son of Jakeh—the utterance: This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Hakika nipo kama mnyama kuliko mwanadamu na sina ufahamu wa wanadamu.
Surely I am more like an animal than any human and I do not have the understanding of a human being.
3 Sijajifunza hekima, wala sina maarifa ya Mtakatifu.
I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Je ni nani amekwenda juu mbinguni na kurudi chini? Je ni nani aliyekusanya upepo kwenye mikono yake? Je ni nani aliyekusanya maji kwenye kanzu? Je ni nani aliyeziimarisha ncha za dunia yote? Jina lake ni nani, na jina la mtoto wake ni nani? Hakika unajua!
Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? Who has gathered up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
5 Kila neno la Mungu limejaribiwa, yeye ni ngao kwa wale wanaokimbilia kwake.
Every word of God is tested; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Usiyaongezee maneno haya, au atakukemea, na utathibitishwa kuwa mwongo.
Do not add to his words, or he will discipline you, and you will be proved to be a liar.
7 Vitu viwili ninakuomba, usivikatalie kwangu kabla sijafa:
Two things I ask of you, do not withhold them from me before I die:
8 Majivuno na uongo viweke mbali nami. Usinipe umasikini wala utajiri, nipe tu chakula ninachohitaji.
Put vanity and lies far away from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches, just give me the food I need.
9 Maana nikipata vingi zaidi, nitakukana wewe na kusema, “Yehova ni nani?” Au kama nitakuwa masikini, nitaiba na kukufuru jina la Mungu wangu.
For if I have too much, I might deny you and say, “Who is Yahweh?” Or if I become poor, I might steal and profane the name of my God.
10 Usimkashifu mtumwa mbele ya bwana wake, au atakulaani na utapata hatia.
Do not slander a slave before his master, or he will curse you and you will be held guilty.
11 Kizazi ambacho kinachomlaa baba yao na hakimbariki mama yao,
There is a generation that curses their father and does not bless their mother.
12 kizazi hicho ni safi katika macho yao wenyewe, lakini hawajaoshwa uchafu wao.
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, and yet they are not washed of their filth.
13 Hicho ni kizazi- jinsi gani macho yao yanakiburi na kope zao zimeinuka juu! -
There is a generation whose eyes are raised up, and how high are their eyelids lifted up!
14 kuna kizazi ambacho meno yao ni upanga, na mifupa ya taya zao ni visu, ili waweze kumrarua masikini wamtoe duniani na mhitaji atoke miongoni mwa wanadamu.
There is a generation whose teeth are swords, and their jawbones are like knives, so they may devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among humanity.
15 Ruba anamabinti wawili, “Toa na Toa” wanalia. Kuna vitu vitatu ambavyo havitosheki, vinne ambavyo havisememi, “Inatosha”:
The leech has two daughters: “Give and give” they cry. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, “Enough”:
Sheol; the barren womb; land that is never satisfied with water; and the fire that never says, “Enough!” (Sheol h7585)
17 Jicho ambalo linamdhihaki baba na kudharau utii kwa mama, macho yake yatadonolewa na kunguru wa bondeni, na ataliwa na tai.
The eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother, his eyes will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley, and he will be eaten by the vultures.
18 Kuna vitu vitatu ambavyo vinanishangaza, vinne ambavyo sivifahamu:
There are three things that are too wonderful for me, four that I do not understand:
19 njia ya tai angani; njia ya nyoka juu ya mwamba; njia ya meli kwenye moyo wa bahari; na njia ya mtu pamoja mwanake kijana.
the way of an eagle in the sky; the way of a snake on a rock; the way of a ship in the heart of the sea; and the way of a man with a young woman.
20 Hii ni njia ya mzinzi- anakula na kufuta kinywa chake na kusema, “sijafanya ubaya wowote.”
This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and she wipes her mouth and says, “I have done nothing wrong.”
21 Chini ya vitu vitatu dunia hutetemeka na vinne haiwezi kuvivumilia:
Under three things the earth trembles, and under four it cannot bear up:
22 mtumwa anapokuwa mfalme; mpumbavu anaposhiba vyakula;
a slave when he becomes king; a fool when he is filled with food;
23 mwanamke anayechukiwa anapoolewa; kijakazi anapochukua nafasi ya mkuu wake.
a hated woman when she marries; and a maid when she takes the place of her mistress.
24 Vitu vinne duniani ni vidogo na bado vinabusara:
Four things on earth are small and yet they are very wise:
25 mchwa ni viumbe ambao sio imara, lakini huandaa chakula chao wakati wa hari,
the ants are creatures that are not strong, but they prepare their food in the summer;
26 Wibari siyo viumbe wenye nguvu, lakini hutengeneza makazi yake kwenye miamba.
the rock badgers are not mighty creatures, but they make their homes in the rocks.
27 Nzige hawana mfalme, lakini wote wanamwendo wa mpangilio.
Locusts have no king, but all of them march in rank.
28 Kama mjusi, unaweza kumkunja kwa mikono yako miwili, lakini wanapatikana katika majumba ya wafalme.
As for the lizard, you can hold it in your two hands, yet they are found in kings' palaces.
29 Kuna vitu vitatu ambavyo ni fahari katika mwendo na vinne ambavyo ni fahari katika namna ya kutembea:
There are three things that are stately in their stride and four that are stately in how they walk:
30 simba, aliyeimara miongoni mwa wanyama- wala hajiepushi na kitu chochote;
a lion, strongest among wild animals— it does not turn away from anything;
31 jogoo anayetembea kwa mikogo; mbuzi; na mfalme ambaye askari wapo kando yake.
a strutting rooster; a goat; and a king whose soldiers are beside him.
32 Kama umekuwa mpumbavu, jitukuze mwenyewe, au kama umekuwa ukisimamia vibaya- weka mkono wako juu ya kinywa chako.
If you have been foolish, exalting yourself, or if you have been devising evil— put your hand over your mouth.
33 Kama kusuka maziwa hufanya siagi na pua ya mtu hutoa damu kama imepigwa, basi matendo yanayofanywa kwa hasira huzalisha mafarakano.
As churning milk makes butter and as one's nose will produce blood if it is twisted, so deeds done in anger produce conflict.
