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, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Hakika nipo kama mnyama kuliko mwanadamu na sina ufahamu wa wanadamu.
“Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.
3 Sijajifunza hekima, wala sina maarifa ya Mtakatifu.
I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the 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 ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?
5 Kila neno la Mungu limejaribiwa, yeye ni ngao kwa wale wanaokimbilia kwake.
“Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Usiyaongezee maneno haya, au atakukemea, na utathibitishwa kuwa mwongo.
Don’t you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar.
7 Vitu viwili ninakuomba, usivikatalie kwangu kabla sijafa:
“Two things I have asked of you. Don’t deny me before I die.
8 Majivuno na uongo viweke mbali nami. Usinipe umasikini wala utajiri, nipe tu chakula ninachohitaji.
Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful 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, deny you, and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
10 Usimkashifu mtumwa mbele ya bwana wake, au atakulaani na utapata hatia.
“Don’t slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.
11 Kizazi ambacho kinachomlaa baba yao na hakimbariki mama yao,
There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn’t 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, 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, oh how lofty are their eyes! 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 like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from 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 leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.’ “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don’t say, ‘Enough!’:
Sheol, the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that doesn’t say, ‘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 at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it.
18 Kuna vitu vitatu ambavyo vinanishangaza, vinne ambavyo sivifahamu:
“There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’t 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 air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
20 Hii ni njia ya mzinzi- anakula na kufuta kinywa chake na kusema, “sijafanya ubaya wowote.”
“So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.’
21 Chini ya vitu vitatu dunia hutetemeka na vinne haiwezi kuvivumilia:
“For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it can’t bear up:
22 mtumwa anapokuwa mfalme; mpumbavu anaposhiba vyakula;
For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food,
23 mwanamke anayechukiwa anapoolewa; kijakazi anapochukua nafasi ya mkuu wake.
for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress.
24 Vitu vinne duniani ni vidogo na bado vinabusara:
“There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:
25 mchwa ni viumbe ambao sio imara, lakini huandaa chakula chao wakati wa hari,
The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.
26 Wibari siyo viumbe wenye nguvu, lakini hutengeneza makazi yake kwenye miamba.
The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.
27 Nzige hawana mfalme, lakini wote wanamwendo wa mpangilio.
The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.
28 Kama mjusi, unaweza kumkunja kwa mikono yako miwili, lakini wanapatikana katika majumba ya wafalme.
You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is 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 which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:
30 simba, aliyeimara miongoni mwa wanyama- wala hajiepushi na kitu chochote;
The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn’t turn away for any;
31 jogoo anayetembea kwa mikogo; mbuzi; na mfalme ambaye askari wapo kando yake.
the greyhound; the male goat; and the 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 you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought 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.
For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.”
