Mithali 6
1 Mwanangu, kama utaweka pesa zako kuwa dhamana kwa mkopo wa jirani yako; kama ukitoa ahadi yako katika mkopo wa mtu usiyemjua,
My son, if you have taken a pledge on behalf of your friend, then you have bound your hand to an outsider,
2 basi umejiwekea mtego mwenyewe na umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako.
then you are ensnared by the words of your own mouth, and taken captive by your own words.
3 Mwanagu, ukinaswa kwa maneno yako mwenyewe, fanya haya ili kujiokoa, kwa kuwa umeangukia kwenye mikono ya jirani yako; nenda unyenyekee na ufanye shauri mbele ya jirani yako.
Therefore, my son, do what I say, and free yourself, for you have fallen into the hand of your neighbor. Run, hurry, awaken your friend.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi katika macho yako wala kope za macho yako kusinzia.
Do not grant sleep to your eyes, nor let your eyelids slumber.
5 Jiokoe mwenyewe kama swala kutoka katika mkono wa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka katika mkono wa mwinda ndege.
Rescue yourself like a gazelle from the hand, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Wewe mtu mvivu, mwangalie mchwa, zitafakari njia zake ili kupata busara.
Go to the ant, you lazy one, and consider her ways, and so learn wisdom.
7 Hana akida, afisa au mtawala,
For though she has no ruler, nor instructor, nor leader,
8 lakini huandaa chakula chake wakati wa joto na wakati wa mavuno huweka hazina ili kula baadaye.
she provides meals for herself in the summer, and she gathers at the harvest what she may eat.
9 Ewe mtu mvivu, utalala hata lini? Wakati gani utainuka usingizini?”
How long will you slumber, you lazy one? When will you rise up from your sleep?
10 Lala kidogo, sizia kidogo, kunja mikono kupumzika kidogo” -
You will sleep a little, you will slumber a little, you will fold your hands a little to sleep,
11 ndipo umasikini wako utakapokujia kama mporaji na uhitaji wako kama askari wa vita.
and then destitution will meet with you, like a traveler, and poverty, like an armed man. Yet truly, if you would be diligent, then your harvest will arrive like a fountain, and destitution will flee far from you.
12 Mtu asiyefaa-mtu mwovu- huishi kwa kauli za udanganyifu wake,
An apostate man, a harmful man, walks with a perverse mouth;
13 akipepesa macho yake, akiashilia kwa miguu yake na kusonta kwa videle vyake.
he winks with the eyes, touches with the foot, speaks with the finger.
14 Hufanya njama za uovu kwa hila ya moyo wake; daima huchochea faraka.
With a depraved heart he devises evil, and at all times he sows conflict.
15 Kwa hiyo msiba wake utamkumba kwa ghafula, punde atavunjika vibaya wala hatapona.
To this one, his perdition will arrive promptly, and he shall be crushed suddenly: he will no longer have any remedy.
16 Kuna vitu sita ambavyo Yehova huvichukia, saba ambavyo ni chukizo kwake.
Six things there are that the Lord hates, and the seventh, his soul detests:
17 Macho ya mtu mwenye kiburi, ulimi wa uongo, mikono inayomwaga damu ya watu maasumu,
haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 moyo unaobuni njama mbaya, miguu inayokimbilia maovu upesi,
a heart that devises the most wicked thoughts, feet running swiftly unto evil,
19 shahidi asemaye uongo na apandaye faraka kati ya ndugu.
a deceitful witness bringing forth lies, and he who sows discord among brothers.
20 Mwanangu, itii amri ya baba yako na wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, preserve the precepts of your father, and do not dismiss the law of your mother.
21 Uyafunge katika moyo wako siku zote; yafunge kwenye shingo yako.
Bind them to your heart unceasingly, and encircle them around your throat.
22 utembeapo, yatakuongoza; ulalapo yatakulinda, na uamkapo yatakufundisha.
When you walk, let them keep step with you. When you sleep, let them guard you. And when you keep watch, speak with them.
23 Maana amri ni taa, na mafundisho ni nuru; kinga za kuadilisha za njia ya uzima.
For commandment is a lamp, and law is a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life.
24 Yanakulinda dhidi ya mwanamke malaya, dhidi ya maneno laini ya uzinzi.
So may they guard you from an evil woman, and from the flattering tongue of the outsider.
25 Moyoni mwako usiutamani uzuri wake wala usitekwe katika kope zake.
Let not your heart desire her beauty; do not be captivated by her winks.
26 Kulala na malaya inaweza kugharimu bei ya kipande cha mkate, lakini mke wa mtu mwingine inagharimu uzima wako wote.
For the price of a prostitute is only one loaf. Yet the woman seizes the precious soul of a man.
27 Je mtu anaweza kubeba moto katika kifua chake bila kuuguza mavazi yake?
Would a man be able to conceal fire in his bosom, so that his garments would not burn?
28 Je mtu anaweza kutembea juu ya makaa bila kuchomwa miguu yake?
Or could he walk over burning coals, so that his feet would not be burned?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa jirani yake; yule alalaye na huyo mke hatakosa adhabu.
So also, he who enters to the wife of his neighbor shall not be clean when he touches her.
30 Watu hawawezi kumdharau mwizi kama anaiba ili kukidhi hitaji lake la njaa.
Not so great is the fault when someone has stolen. For he steals so as to satisfy a hungry soul.
31 Walakini akimatwa, atalipa mara saba ya kile alichoiba; lazima atoe kila kitu cha thamani katika nyumba yake.
Also, if he is apprehended, he shall repay sevenfold and hand over all the substance of his house.
32 Mtu anayefanya uzinzi hana akili; hufanya hiyo kwa uharibifu wake mwenyewe.
But whoever is an adulterer, because of the emptiness of his heart, will destroy his own soul.
33 Anasitahili aibu na majeraha na fedheha yake haiwezi kuondolewa.
He gathers shame and dishonor to himself, and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 Maana vivu humghadhibisha mtu; hatakuwa na huruma wakati wa kulipa kisasi chake.
For the jealousy and fury of the husband will not spare him on the day of vindication,
35 Ujapompa zawadi nyingi, hatakubali mbadala wa kusuruhishwa wala kulipwa.
nor will he agree to the pleadings of anyone, nor will he accept, as repayment, a multitude of gifts.
