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 set aside your money as a guarantee for your neighbor's loan, if you gave your promise for a loan of someone you do not know,
2 basi umejiwekea mtego mwenyewe na umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako.
then you have laid a trap for yourself by your promise and you have been caught by the words of your 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.
When you are caught by your words, my son, do this and save yourself, since you have fallen into the hand of your neighbor; go and humble yourself and make your case before your neighbor.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi katika macho yako wala kope za macho yako kusinzia.
Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber.
5 Jiokoe mwenyewe kama swala kutoka katika mkono wa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka katika mkono wa mwinda ndege.
Save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Wewe mtu mvivu, mwangalie mchwa, zitafakari njia zake ili kupata busara.
Look at the ant, you lazy person, consider her ways, and be wise.
7 Hana akida, afisa au mtawala,
It has no commander, officer, or ruler,
8 lakini huandaa chakula chake wakati wa joto na wakati wa mavuno huweka hazina ili kula baadaye.
yet it prepares its food in the summer and during the harvest it stores up what it will eat.
9 Ewe mtu mvivu, utalala hata lini? Wakati gani utainuka usingizini?”
How long will you sleep, you lazy person? When will you rise from your sleep?
10 Lala kidogo, sizia kidogo, kunja mikono kupumzika kidogo” -
“A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest”—
11 ndipo umasikini wako utakapokujia kama mporaji na uhitaji wako kama askari wa vita.
and your poverty will come like a robber and your needs like an armed soldier.
12 Mtu asiyefaa-mtu mwovu- huishi kwa kauli za udanganyifu wake,
A worthless person—a wicked man— lives by the crookedness of his speech,
13 akipepesa macho yake, akiashilia kwa miguu yake na kusonta kwa videle vyake.
winking his eyes, making signals with his feet and pointing with his fingers.
14 Hufanya njama za uovu kwa hila ya moyo wake; daima huchochea faraka.
He plots evil with deceit in his heart; he always stirs up discord.
15 Kwa hiyo msiba wake utamkumba kwa ghafula, punde atavunjika vibaya wala hatapona.
Therefore his disaster will overtake him in an instant; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.
16 Kuna vitu sita ambavyo Yehova huvichukia, saba ambavyo ni chukizo kwake.
There are six things that Yahweh hates, seven that are disgusting to him.
17 Macho ya mtu mwenye kiburi, ulimi wa uongo, mikono inayomwaga damu ya watu maasumu,
The eyes of a proud person, a tongue that lies, hands that shed the blood of innocent people,
18 moyo unaobuni njama mbaya, miguu inayokimbilia maovu upesi,
a heart that invents wicked schemes, feet that quickly run to do evil,
19 shahidi asemaye uongo na apandaye faraka kati ya ndugu.
a witness who breathes out lies and one who sows discord among brothers.
20 Mwanangu, itii amri ya baba yako na wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, obey the command of your father and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
21 Uyafunge katika moyo wako siku zote; yafunge kwenye shingo yako.
Always bind them on your heart; tie them about your neck.
22 utembeapo, yatakuongoza; ulalapo yatakulinda, na uamkapo yatakufundisha.
When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you wake up, they will teach you.
23 Maana amri ni taa, na mafundisho ni nuru; kinga za kuadilisha za njia ya uzima.
For the commands are a lamp, and the teaching is a light; the corrections that come by instruction are the way of life.
24 Yanakulinda dhidi ya mwanamke malaya, dhidi ya maneno laini ya uzinzi.
It keeps you from the immoral woman, from the smooth words of an immoral woman.
25 Moyoni mwako usiutamani uzuri wake wala usitekwe katika kope zake.
Do not lust in your heart after her beauty and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes.
26 Kulala na malaya inaweza kugharimu bei ya kipande cha mkate, lakini mke wa mtu mwingine inagharimu uzima wako wote.
Sleeping with a prostitute can cost the price of a loaf of bread, but the wife of another may cost you your very life.
27 Je mtu anaweza kubeba moto katika kifua chake bila kuuguza mavazi yake?
Can a man carry a fire against his chest without burning his clothes?
28 Je mtu anaweza kutembea juu ya makaa bila kuchomwa miguu yake?
Can a man walk on hot coals without scorching his feet?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa jirani yake; yule alalaye na huyo mke hatakosa adhabu.
So is the man who sleeps with his neighbor's wife; the one who sleeps with her will not go unpunished.
30 Watu hawawezi kumdharau mwizi kama anaiba ili kukidhi hitaji lake la njaa.
People do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy his need when he is hungry.
31 Walakini akimatwa, atalipa mara saba ya kile alichoiba; lazima atoe kila kitu cha thamani katika nyumba yake.
Yet if he is caught, he will pay back seven times what he stole; he must give up everything of value in his house.
32 Mtu anayefanya uzinzi hana akili; hufanya hiyo kwa uharibifu wake mwenyewe.
The one who commits adultery has no sense; the one who does it destroys himself.
33 Anasitahili aibu na majeraha na fedheha yake haiwezi kuondolewa.
Wounds and shame are what he deserves and his disgrace will not be wiped away.
34 Maana vivu humghadhibisha mtu; hatakuwa na huruma wakati wa kulipa kisasi chake.
For jealousy makes a man furious; he will show no mercy when he takes his revenge.
35 Ujapompa zawadi nyingi, hatakubali mbadala wa kusuruhishwa wala kulipwa.
He will accept no compensation and he cannot be bought off, though you offer him many gifts.
