Mithali 31
1 Maneno ya mfalme Lemueli - mausia aliyofundishwa na mama yake.
These are sayings/messages that [God gave to] King Lemuel’s mother, and which his mother taught him:
2 Mwanangu nini? Na ni nini mwana wa tumbo langu? Na ni nini mwana wa nadhiri zangu?
You are my son; I gave birth to you [RHQ]; you are the son that [God gave me] in answer to my prayers.
3 Nguvu zako usiwape wanawake; au wenye kuharibu wafalme njia zako.
Do not exhaust your energy [having sex] [EUP] with women [to whom you are not married], with women who ruin kings [by having sex with them].
4 Lemueli, kunywa divai, siyo kwa ajili ya wafalme, wala kwa watawala kuuliza, “kileo kikali kiko wapi?”
Lemuel, kings should not be [constantly] drinking wine or [greatly] desire [to drink other] strong/alcoholic drinks.
5 Kwa sababu kama watakunywa, watasahau sheria ni nini, na kupotosha haki za wote walioonewa.
If they do that, they forget the laws [that they have made], and they do not do what is right for poor/afflicted [people].
6 Wape kileo kikali watu wanaopotea na mvinyo kwa wale wenye kutaabika kwa uchungu.
Give strong/alcoholic drinks to those who are dying and to those who are (greatly distressed/suffering very much).
7 Atakunywa na kusahau umasikini wake na hataikumbuka taabu yake.
If they drink, they will forget that they are poor, and they will not think about their distress/troubles any more.
8 Ongea kwa ajili yao wasioweza kuongea, kwa madai ya wote wanaopotea.
Speak [MTY] to defend people who are unable to defend themselves; speak to encourage others to do what is right for those who are helpless.
9 Ongea na uhukumu kwa vipimo vya haki na utetee dai la masikini na watu wahitaji.
Speak [MTY] (on their behalf/to help them) and try to cause judges to decide matters fairly/justly; try to cause others to do for poor and needy [people] what should be done for them.
10 Mke hodari ni nani anaweza kumpata? Thamani yake ni zaidi kuliko vito.
It is very difficult [for a man] to [RHQ] find a wife who is good and who is capable [of doing many things]. [Any woman who is like that] is worth more than jewels.
11 Moyo wa mume wake humwamini, na hatakuwa masikini.
Her husband completely trusts her, and [because of her], he has everything that he needs [LIT].
12 Humtendea mambo mema na wala si mabaya siku zote za maisha yake.
She never does anything that would harm him; she does good things for him all the days of her life.
13 Huchagua sufu na kitani, na hufanya kazi yake ya mikono kwa furaha.
She finds wool and flax [in the market], and she enjoys spinning it [to make yarn].
14 Yupo kama meli za wafanyabiashara; huleta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
She is like [SIM] a ship that brings from far away goods/merchandise to sell, [because] she buys food that comes from far away.
15 Huamka wakati wa usiku na kuwapa chakula watu wa kaya yake, na kugawa kazi kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
She gets up before dawn to prepare food for her family. [Then] she plans the work that her servant girls will do on that day.
16 Hulifikiria shamba na kulinunua, kwa tunda la mikono yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
She [goes out and] looks at a field [that someone wants to sell]; and [if it is a good field], she buys it. She [buys] grapevines [MTY] with the money that she has earned, [and then] she plants them.
17 Yeye mwenyewe hujivika nguvu na kuimarisha mikono yake.
She works very hard [IDM]; she makes her arms strong [by the work she does].
18 Huangalia ni kipi kitaleta faida nzuri kwake; usiku wote taa yake haizimishwi.
She knows when she is getting a good profit from her business. [When it is necessary], she works [MTY] until it is late at night.
19 Mikono yake huiweka kwenye mpini wa kisokotea nyuzi na hushikilia kisokotea nyuzi.
She holds the (spindle/rod which twists the thread that she is making), and [then] she spins the thread [MTY] [that she will use].
20 Mkono wake huwafikia watu masikini; mikono yake huwafikia watu wahitaji.
She generously helps [MTY] those who are poor and needy [DOU].
21 Haogopi theluji kwa ajili ya kaya yake, kwa maana nyumba yake yote imevika kwa nguo nyekundu.
She is not worried that [the people in her house will be cold in] the winter, because [she has made] warm clothes for all of them.
22 Hutengeneza matandiko ya kitanda chake, na huvaa nguo za kitani ya dhambarau safi.
She makes bedspreads/quilts for the beds. She wears fine linen clothes that are dyed purple, [like queens wear].
23 Mume wake anajulikana malangoni, anapoketi na wazee wa nchi.
Her husband is [well] known by the important people of the town; he sits with the [other] town leaders in the meetings of the town council.
24 Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, na naleta mishipi kwa wafanyabiashara.
She makes clothes from linen cloth and sells them. She sells sashes to shop owners.
25 Amevaa nguvu na heshima, na wakati ujao huucheka.
She is strong in her character and respected/dignified, and she (laughs at/is not afraid of) [what will happen in] the future.
26 Anafumbua kinywa chake kwa hekima na sheria ya ukarimu ipo kwenye ulimi wake.
When she speaks, she says what is wise. When she gives instructions, she speaks [MTY] kindly (OR, faithfully).
27 Huangalia njia za nyumba yake na hawezi kula mkate wa uvivu.
She watches over everything that is done in her household, and she [IDM] is never lazy.
28 Watoto wake huinuka na kumwita heri na mume wake humsifia, akisema,
Her children all together speak highly of her, and her husband also praises her.
29 “Wanawake wengi wamefanya vizuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
[He says to her], “There are many women who do admirable things, but you surpass them all!”
30 Madaha ni udanganyifu, uzuri ni ubatili; bali mwanamke amchaye Yehova, atasifiwa.
Some women who are attractive [are not really good women], [but] they can deceive us [regarding what they are really like]. Furthermore, women’s beauty does not last; but women who revere Yahweh should be honored.
31 Mpeni tunda la mikono yake na kazi zake zimsifu katika malango.
Reward women who are like that, and praise them in public [MTY] for what they have done.
