Mithali 30
1 Maneno ya Aguri mwana wa Yake - mausia: Mtu huyu alimwambia Ithieli, kwa Ithiel na Ukali:
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, [even] the prophecy: the man spoke to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal,
2 Hakika nipo kama mnyama kuliko mwanadamu na sina ufahamu wa wanadamu.
Surely I [am] more brutish than [any] man, and have not the understanding of a man.
3 Sijajifunza hekima, wala sina maarifa ya Mtakatifu.
I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
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 hath ascended into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his son's name, if thou canst tell?
5 Kila neno la Mungu limejaribiwa, yeye ni ngao kwa wale wanaokimbilia kwake.
Every word of God [is] pure: he [is] a shield to them that put their trust in him.
6 Usiyaongezee maneno haya, au atakukemea, na utathibitishwa kuwa mwongo.
Add thou not to his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
7 Vitu viwili ninakuomba, usivikatalie kwangu kabla sijafa:
Two [things] have I required of thee; deny [them] not to me before I die:
8 Majivuno na uongo viweke mbali nami. Usinipe umasikini wala utajiri, nipe tu chakula ninachohitaji.
Remove far from me vanity and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
9 Maana nikipata vingi zaidi, nitakukana wewe na kusema, “Yehova ni nani?” Au kama nitakuwa masikini, nitaiba na kukufuru jina la Mungu wangu.
Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain].
10 Usimkashifu mtumwa mbele ya bwana wake, au atakulaani na utapata hatia.
Accuse not a servant to his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
11 Kizazi ambacho kinachomlaa baba yao na hakimbariki mama yao,
[There is] a generation [that] curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12 kizazi hicho ni safi katika macho yao wenyewe, lakini hawajaoshwa uchafu wao.
[There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes, and [yet] are not washed from their filthiness.
13 Hicho ni kizazi- jinsi gani macho yao yanakiburi na kope zao zimeinuka juu! -
[There is] a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are 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 as] swords, and their jaw-teeth [as] knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from [among] men.
15 Ruba anamabinti wawili, “Toa na Toa” wanalia. Kuna vitu vitatu ambavyo havitosheki, vinne ambavyo havisememi, “Inatosha”:
The horse-leech hath two daughters, [crying], Give, give. There are three [things that] are never satisfied, [yes], four [things] say not, [It is] enough:
The grave; and the barren womb; the earth [that] is not filled with water; and the fire [that] saith not, [It is] 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] mocketh at [its] father, and despiseth to obey [its] mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
18 Kuna vitu vitatu ambavyo vinanishangaza, vinne ambavyo sivifahamu:
There are three [things which] are too wonderful for me, yes, four which I know not:
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 air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
20 Hii ni njia ya mzinzi- anakula na kufuta kinywa chake na kusema, “sijafanya ubaya wowote.”
Such [is] the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
21 Chini ya vitu vitatu dunia hutetemeka na vinne haiwezi kuvivumilia:
For three [things] the earth is disquieted, and for four [which] it cannot bear:
22 mtumwa anapokuwa mfalme; mpumbavu anaposhiba vyakula;
For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with food.
23 mwanamke anayechukiwa anapoolewa; kijakazi anapochukua nafasi ya mkuu wake.
For an odious [woman] when she is married; and a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24 Vitu vinne duniani ni vidogo na bado vinabusara:
There are four [things which are] little upon the earth, but they [are] very wise:
25 mchwa ni viumbe ambao sio imara, lakini huandaa chakula chao wakati wa hari,
The ants [are] a people not strong, yet they prepare their food in the summer;
26 Wibari siyo viumbe wenye nguvu, lakini hutengeneza makazi yake kwenye miamba.
The conies [are but] a feeble people, yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27 Nzige hawana mfalme, lakini wote wanamwendo wa mpangilio.
The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28 Kama mjusi, unaweza kumkunja kwa mikono yako miwili, lakini wanapatikana katika majumba ya wafalme.
The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in king's palaces.
29 Kuna vitu vitatu ambavyo ni fahari katika mwendo na vinne ambavyo ni fahari katika namna ya kutembea:
There are three [things] which go well, yes, four are comely in going:
30 simba, aliyeimara miongoni mwa wanyama- wala hajiepushi na kitu chochote;
A lion, [which is] strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
31 jogoo anayetembea kwa mikogo; mbuzi; na mfalme ambaye askari wapo kando yake.
A greyhound; a he-goat also; and a king, against whom [there is] no rising up.
32 Kama umekuwa mpumbavu, jitukuze mwenyewe, au kama umekuwa ukisimamia vibaya- weka mkono wako juu ya kinywa chako.
If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, [lay] thy hand upon thy mouth.
33 Kama kusuka maziwa hufanya siagi na pua ya mtu hutoa damu kama imepigwa, basi matendo yanayofanywa kwa hasira huzalisha mafarakano.
Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
