Mithali 8
1 Je hekima haiti? Je ufahamu hapazi sauti yake?
Doth not wisdom cry aloud, and prudence put forth her voice?
2 Juu ya kilima kando ya barabara, kwenye njia panda, hekima anasimama.
Standing in the top of the highest places by the way, in the midst of the paths.
3 Kando ya njia ya kuingilia mjini, karibu na milango ya mji, anaita kwa sauti.
Beside the gates of the city, in the very doors she speaketh, saying:
4 Watu, ninawaita ninyi na ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wana wa wanadamu.
O ye men, to you I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Ninyi wajinga, jifunzeni hekima, na ninyi mnaochukia maarifa, lazima mjipatieni moyo wa ufahamu.
O little ones, understand subtilty, and ye unwise, take notice.
6 Sikiliza na mimi nitasema mambo mazuri na nifumbuapo midomo yangu nitaongea haki.
Hear, for I will speak of great things: and my lips shall be opened to preach right things.
7 Maana kinywa changu hunena uaminifu na midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
My mouth shall meditate truth, and my lips shall hate wickedness.
8 Maneno ya kinywa changu yote ni haki; hakuna kilichogeuzwa wala kupotoshwa.
All my words are just, there is nothing wicked nor perverse in them.
9 Maneno yangu yote yamenyooka kwa yule mwenye kuelewa; maneno yangu ni haki kwa wale wanaotafuta maarifa.
They are right to them that understand, and just to them that find knowledge.
10 Chagua fundisho langu badala ya fedha na maarifa kuliko dhahabu safi.
Receive my instruction, and not money: choose knowledge rather than gold.
11 Maana mimi, hekima ni bora kuliko vito; hakuna unachokitamani kinaweza kulinganishwa na mimi.
For wisdom is better than all the most precious things: and whatsoever may be desired cannot be compared to it.
12 Mimi, hekima, naishi kwa utaratibu, na ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I wisdom dwell in counsel, and am present in learned thoughts.
13 Hofu ya Mungu ni kuchukia uovu- nachukia majivuno na kiburi, njia ya uovu, na kauli iliyopotoka- hivyo ninavichukia.
The fear of the Lord hateth evil: I hate arrogance, and pride, and every wicked way, and a mouth with a double tongue.
14 Ninaushauri mzuri na hekima sahihi; mimi ni busara; nguvu zipo kwangu.
Counsel and equity is mine, prudence is mine, strength is mine.
15 Kwa njia yangu wafalme hutawala- pia na waungwana, na wote ambao hutawala kwa haki.
By me kings reign, and lawgivers decree just things,
16 Kwa njia yangu wafalme hutawala na waungwana na wote wanaotawala kwa haki.
By me princes rule, and the mighty decree justice.
17 Nawapenda wale wanaonipenda, na wale wanaonitafuta kwa bidii, wataniona.
I love them that love me: and they that in the morning early watch for me, shall find me.
18 Kwangu kunautajiri na heshima, utajiri wa kudumu na haki.
With me are riches and glory, glorious riches and justice.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu, bora hata kuliko dhahabu safi.
For my fruit is better than gold and the precious stone, and my blossoms than choice silver.
20 Ninazalisha kilicho bora kuliko fedha safi. Natembea katika njia ya haki,
I walk in the way of justice, in the midst of the paths of judgment,
21 katika mapito ambayo huelekea kwenye haki, ili niwape urithi wale wanaonipenda na kuzijaza hazina zao.
That I may enrich them that love me, and may fill their treasures.
22 Yehova aliniumba tokea mwanzo- mwazoni mwa matendo yake ya nyakati za kale.
The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his ways, before he made any thing from the beginning.
23 Tokea enzi za kale niliwekwa katika nafasi- tokea kwanza, tokea mwanzo wa dunia.
I was set up from eternity, and of old before the earth was made.
24 Kabla ya bahari, mimi nilizaliwa- kabla ya kuwepo chemchemi zenye maji tele.
The depths were not as yet, and I was already conceived. neither had the fountains of waters as yet sprung out:
25 Kabla ya milima na vilima kuwekwa, mimi nilizaliwa.
The mountains with their huge bulk had not as yet been established: before the hills I was brought forth:
26 Nilizaliwa kabla ya Yehova hajaiumba dunia wala makonde, hata mavumbi ya kwanza katika dunia.
He had not yet made the earth, nor the rivers, nor the poles of the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziimarisha mbingu, wakati alipochora mstari katika sura ya kilindi.
When he prepared the heavens, I was present: when with a certain law and compass he enclosed the depths:
28 Nilikuwepo alipoimarisha anga la juu na wakati wa kutengeneza kina cha chemchemi.
When he established the sky above, and poised the fountains of waters:
29 Nilikuwepo alipotengeneza mipaka ya bahari, ili maji yasisambae kuvuka pale alipoyaamuru, na wakati anaamuru misingi ya dunia sehemu ya kukaa.
When he compassed the sea with its bounds, and set a law to the waters that they should not pass their limits: when be balanced the foundations of the earth;
30 Nilikuwa kando yake, kama fundistadi mkuu, na mimi nilikuwa furaha yake siku kwa siku, nikifurahi mbele zake daima.
I was with him forming all things: and was delighted every day, playing before him at all times;
31 Nilikuwa nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote na furaha yangu ilikuwa kwa wana wa wanadamu.
Playing in the world: and my delights were to be with the children of men.
32 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni, maana wale wazishikao njia zangu watakuwa na furaha.
Now therefore, ye children, hear me: Blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Sikilizeni fundisho langu na mpate hekima; wala msilipuuze.
Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Anisikilizaye atakuwa na furaha- kila siku akitazama katika malango yangu, akinisubiri pembeni mwa milango ya masikani yangu.
Blessed is the man that heareth me, and that watcheth daily at my gates, and waiteth at the posts of my doors.
35 Maana yeyote anionaye mimi, anapata uzima, naye atapata kibali kwa Yehova.
He that shall find me, shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord:
36 Na yeyote asiyeniona mimi, hujiumiza mwenyewe, wote wanaonichukia hupenda mauti.
But he that shall sin against me, shall hurt his own soul. All that hate me love death.
