Mithali 31
1 Maneno ya mfalme Lemueli - mausia aliyofundishwa na mama yake.
The words of king Lamuel. The vision wherewith his mother instructed him.
2 Mwanangu nini? Na ni nini mwana wa tumbo langu? Na ni nini mwana wa nadhiri zangu?
What, O my beloved, what, O the beloved of my womb, what, O the beloved of my vows?
3 Nguvu zako usiwape wanawake; au wenye kuharibu wafalme njia zako.
Give not thy substance to women, and thy riches to destroy kings.
4 Lemueli, kunywa divai, siyo kwa ajili ya wafalme, wala kwa watawala kuuliza, “kileo kikali kiko wapi?”
Give not to kings, O Lamuel, give not wine to kings: because there is no secret where drunkenness reigneth:
5 Kwa sababu kama watakunywa, watasahau sheria ni nini, na kupotosha haki za wote walioonewa.
And lest they drink and forget judgments, and pervert the cause of the children of the poor.
6 Wape kileo kikali watu wanaopotea na mvinyo kwa wale wenye kutaabika kwa uchungu.
Give strong drink to them that are sad: and wine to them that are grieved in mind:
7 Atakunywa na kusahau umasikini wake na hataikumbuka taabu yake.
Let them drink, and forget their want, and remember their sorrow no more.
8 Ongea kwa ajili yao wasioweza kuongea, kwa madai ya wote wanaopotea.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, and for the causes of all the children that pass.
9 Ongea na uhukumu kwa vipimo vya haki na utetee dai la masikini na watu wahitaji.
Open thy mouth, decree that which is just, and do justice to the needy and poor.
10 Mke hodari ni nani anaweza kumpata? Thamani yake ni zaidi kuliko vito.
Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her.
11 Moyo wa mume wake humwamini, na hatakuwa masikini.
The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils.
12 Humtendea mambo mema na wala si mabaya siku zote za maisha yake.
She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life.
13 Huchagua sufu na kitani, na hufanya kazi yake ya mikono kwa furaha.
She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands.
14 Yupo kama meli za wafanyabiashara; huleta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
She is like the merchant’s ship, she bringeth her bread from afar.
15 Huamka wakati wa usiku na kuwapa chakula watu wa kaya yake, na kugawa kazi kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
And she hath risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and victuals to her maidens.
16 Hulifikiria shamba na kulinunua, kwa tunda la mikono yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
She hath considered a field, and bought it: with the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 Yeye mwenyewe hujivika nguvu na kuimarisha mikono yake.
She hath girded her loins with strength, and hath strengthened her arm.
18 Huangalia ni kipi kitaleta faida nzuri kwake; usiku wote taa yake haizimishwi.
She hath tasted and seen that her traffic is good: her lamp shall not be put out in the night.
19 Mikono yake huiweka kwenye mpini wa kisokotea nyuzi na hushikilia kisokotea nyuzi.
She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.
20 Mkono wake huwafikia watu masikini; mikono yake huwafikia watu wahitaji.
She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor.
21 Haogopi theluji kwa ajili ya kaya yake, kwa maana nyumba yake yote imevika kwa nguo nyekundu.
She shall not fear for her house in the cold of snow: for all her domestics are clothed with double garments.
22 Hutengeneza matandiko ya kitanda chake, na huvaa nguo za kitani ya dhambarau safi.
She hath made for herself clothing of tapestry: fine linen, and purple is her covering.
23 Mume wake anajulikana malangoni, anapoketi na wazee wa nchi.
Her husband is honourable in the gates, when he sitteth among the senators of the land.
24 Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, na naleta mishipi kwa wafanyabiashara.
She made fine linen, and sold it, and delivered a girdle to the Chanaanite.
25 Amevaa nguvu na heshima, na wakati ujao huucheka.
Strength and beauty are her clothing, and she shall laugh in the latter day.
26 Anafumbua kinywa chake kwa hekima na sheria ya ukarimu ipo kwenye ulimi wake.
She hath opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.
27 Huangalia njia za nyumba yake na hawezi kula mkate wa uvivu.
She hath looked well to the paths of her house, and hath not eaten her bread idle.
28 Watoto wake huinuka na kumwita heri na mume wake humsifia, akisema,
Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
29 “Wanawake wengi wamefanya vizuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
Many daughters have gathered together riches: thou hast surpassed them all.
30 Madaha ni udanganyifu, uzuri ni ubatili; bali mwanamke amchaye Yehova, atasifiwa.
Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Mpeni tunda la mikono yake na kazi zake zimsifu katika malango.
Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.
