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 thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
2 basi umejiwekea mtego mwenyewe na umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako.
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
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.
Do this now, my son, deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi katika macho yako wala kope za macho yako kusinzia.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
5 Jiokoe mwenyewe kama swala kutoka katika mkono wa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka katika mkono wa mwinda ndege.
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Wewe mtu mvivu, mwangalie mchwa, zitafakari njia zake ili kupata busara.
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Hana akida, afisa au mtawala,
Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
8 lakini huandaa chakula chake wakati wa joto na wakati wa mavuno huweka hazina ili kula baadaye.
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 Ewe mtu mvivu, utalala hata lini? Wakati gani utainuka usingizini?”
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Lala kidogo, sizia kidogo, kunja mikono kupumzika kidogo” -
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 ndipo umasikini wako utakapokujia kama mporaji na uhitaji wako kama askari wa vita.
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
12 Mtu asiyefaa-mtu mwovu- huishi kwa kauli za udanganyifu wake,
A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
13 akipepesa macho yake, akiashilia kwa miguu yake na kusonta kwa videle vyake.
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
14 Hufanya njama za uovu kwa hila ya moyo wake; daima huchochea faraka.
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
15 Kwa hiyo msiba wake utamkumba kwa ghafula, punde atavunjika vibaya wala hatapona.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
16 Kuna vitu sita ambavyo Yehova huvichukia, saba ambavyo ni chukizo kwake.
These six things doth YHWH hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 Macho ya mtu mwenye kiburi, ulimi wa uongo, mikono inayomwaga damu ya watu maasumu,
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 moyo unaobuni njama mbaya, miguu inayokimbilia maovu upesi,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 shahidi asemaye uongo na apandaye faraka kati ya ndugu.
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
20 Mwanangu, itii amri ya baba yako na wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21 Uyafunge katika moyo wako siku zote; yafunge kwenye shingo yako.
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
22 utembeapo, yatakuongoza; ulalapo yatakulinda, na uamkapo yatakufundisha.
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 Maana amri ni taa, na mafundisho ni nuru; kinga za kuadilisha za njia ya uzima.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24 Yanakulinda dhidi ya mwanamke malaya, dhidi ya maneno laini ya uzinzi.
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
25 Moyoni mwako usiutamani uzuri wake wala usitekwe katika kope zake.
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
26 Kulala na malaya inaweza kugharimu bei ya kipande cha mkate, lakini mke wa mtu mwingine inagharimu uzima wako wote.
For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
27 Je mtu anaweza kubeba moto katika kifua chake bila kuuguza mavazi yake?
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
28 Je mtu anaweza kutembea juu ya makaa bila kuchomwa miguu yake?
Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa jirani yake; yule alalaye na huyo mke hatakosa adhabu.
So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
30 Watu hawawezi kumdharau mwizi kama anaiba ili kukidhi hitaji lake la njaa.
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
31 Walakini akimatwa, atalipa mara saba ya kile alichoiba; lazima atoe kila kitu cha thamani katika nyumba yake.
But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
32 Mtu anayefanya uzinzi hana akili; hufanya hiyo kwa uharibifu wake mwenyewe.
But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
33 Anasitahili aibu na majeraha na fedheha yake haiwezi kuondolewa.
A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34 Maana vivu humghadhibisha mtu; hatakuwa na huruma wakati wa kulipa kisasi chake.
For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 Ujapompa zawadi nyingi, hatakubali mbadala wa kusuruhishwa wala kulipwa.
He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
