Mithali 31
1 Maneno ya mfalme Lemueli - mausia aliyofundishwa na mama yake.
Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him:
2 Mwanangu nini? Na ni nini mwana wa tumbo langu? Na ni nini mwana wa nadhiri zangu?
'What, my son? and what, son of my womb? And what, son of my vows?
3 Nguvu zako usiwape wanawake; au wenye kuharibu wafalme njia zako.
Give not to women thy strength, And thy ways to wiping away of kings.
4 Lemueli, kunywa divai, siyo kwa ajili ya wafalme, wala kwa watawala kuuliza, “kileo kikali kiko wapi?”
Not for kings, O Lemuel, Not for kings, to drink wine, And for princes a desire of strong drink.
5 Kwa sababu kama watakunywa, watasahau sheria ni nini, na kupotosha haki za wote walioonewa.
Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.
6 Wape kileo kikali watu wanaopotea na mvinyo kwa wale wenye kutaabika kwa uchungu.
Give strong drink to the perishing, And wine to the bitter in soul,
7 Atakunywa na kusahau umasikini wake na hataikumbuka taabu yake.
He drinketh, and forgetteth his poverty, And his misery he remembereth not again.
8 Ongea kwa ajili yao wasioweza kuongea, kwa madai ya wote wanaopotea.
Open thy mouth for the dumb, For the right of all sons of change.
9 Ongea na uhukumu kwa vipimo vya haki na utetee dai la masikini na watu wahitaji.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, Both the cause of the poor and needy!'
10 Mke hodari ni nani anaweza kumpata? Thamani yake ni zaidi kuliko vito.
A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies [is] her price.
11 Moyo wa mume wake humwamini, na hatakuwa masikini.
The heart of her husband hath trusted in her, And spoil he lacketh not.
12 Humtendea mambo mema na wala si mabaya siku zote za maisha yake.
She hath done him good, and not evil, All days of her life.
13 Huchagua sufu na kitani, na hufanya kazi yake ya mikono kwa furaha.
She hath sought wool and flax, And with delight she worketh [with] her hands.
14 Yupo kama meli za wafanyabiashara; huleta chakula chake kutoka mbali.
She hath been as ships of the merchant, From afar she bringeth in her bread.
15 Huamka wakati wa usiku na kuwapa chakula watu wa kaya yake, na kugawa kazi kwa watumishi wake wa kike.
Yea, she riseth while yet night, And giveth food to her household, And a portion to her damsels.
16 Hulifikiria shamba na kulinunua, kwa tunda la mikono yake hupanda shamba la mizabibu.
She hath considered a field, and taketh it, From the fruit of her hands she hath planted a vineyard.
17 Yeye mwenyewe hujivika nguvu na kuimarisha mikono yake.
She hath girded with might her loins, And doth strengthen her arms.
18 Huangalia ni kipi kitaleta faida nzuri kwake; usiku wote taa yake haizimishwi.
She hath perceived when her merchandise [is] good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.
19 Mikono yake huiweka kwenye mpini wa kisokotea nyuzi na hushikilia kisokotea nyuzi.
Her hands she hath sent forth on a spindle, And her hands have held a distaff.
20 Mkono wake huwafikia watu masikini; mikono yake huwafikia watu wahitaji.
Her hand she hath spread forth to the poor, Yea, her hands she sent forth to the needy.
21 Haogopi theluji kwa ajili ya kaya yake, kwa maana nyumba yake yote imevika kwa nguo nyekundu.
She is not afraid of her household from snow, For all her household are clothed [with] scarlet.
22 Hutengeneza matandiko ya kitanda chake, na huvaa nguo za kitani ya dhambarau safi.
Ornamental coverings she hath made for herself, Silk and purple [are] her clothing.
23 Mume wake anajulikana malangoni, anapoketi na wazee wa nchi.
Known in the gates is her husband, In his sitting with elders of the land.
24 Hutengeneza mavazi ya kitani na kuyauza, na naleta mishipi kwa wafanyabiashara.
Linen garments she hath made, and selleth, And a girdle she hath given to the merchant.
25 Amevaa nguvu na heshima, na wakati ujao huucheka.
Strength and honour [are] her clothing, And she rejoiceth at a latter day.
26 Anafumbua kinywa chake kwa hekima na sheria ya ukarimu ipo kwenye ulimi wake.
Her mouth she hath opened in wisdom, And the law of kindness [is] on her tongue.
27 Huangalia njia za nyumba yake na hawezi kula mkate wa uvivu.
She [is] watching the ways of her household, And bread of sloth she eateth not.
28 Watoto wake huinuka na kumwita heri na mume wake humsifia, akisema,
Her sons have risen up, and pronounce her happy, Her husband, and he praiseth her,
29 “Wanawake wengi wamefanya vizuri, lakini wewe umewapita wote.”
'Many [are] the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'
30 Madaha ni udanganyifu, uzuri ni ubatili; bali mwanamke amchaye Yehova, atasifiwa.
The grace [is] false, and the beauty [is] vain, A woman fearing Jehovah, she may boast herself.
31 Mpeni tunda la mikono yake na kazi zake zimsifu katika malango.
Give ye to her of the fruit of her hands, And her works do praise her in the gates!
