Mithali 8
1 Je hekima haiti? Je ufahamu hapazi sauti yake?
You shall proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to you.
2 Juu ya kilima kando ya barabara, kwenye njia panda, hekima anasimama.
For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
3 Kando ya njia ya kuingilia mjini, karibu na milango ya mji, anaita kwa sauti.
For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
4 Watu, ninawaita ninyi na ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wana wa wanadamu.
You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
5 Ninyi wajinga, jifunzeni hekima, na ninyi mnaochukia maarifa, lazima mjipatieni moyo wa ufahamu.
O you simple, understand subtlety, and you that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
6 Sikiliza na mimi nitasema mambo mazuri na nifumbuapo midomo yangu nitaongea haki.
Listen to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
7 Maana kinywa changu hunena uaminifu na midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
8 Maneno ya kinywa changu yote ni haki; hakuna kilichogeuzwa wala kupotoshwa.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
9 Maneno yangu yote yamenyooka kwa yule mwenye kuelewa; maneno yangu ni haki kwa wale wanaotafuta maarifa.
They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
10 Chagua fundisho langu badala ya fedha na maarifa kuliko dhahabu safi.
Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
11 Maana mimi, hekima ni bora kuliko vito; hakuna unachokitamani kinaweza kulinganishwa na mimi.
For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
12 Mimi, hekima, naishi kwa utaratibu, na ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I wisdom have lived [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
13 Hofu ya Mungu ni kuchukia uovu- nachukia majivuno na kiburi, njia ya uovu, na kauli iliyopotoka- hivyo ninavichukia.
The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
14 Ninaushauri mzuri na hekima sahihi; mimi ni busara; nguvu zipo kwangu.
Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
15 Kwa njia yangu wafalme hutawala- pia na waungwana, na wote ambao hutawala kwa haki.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Kwa njia yangu wafalme hutawala na waungwana na wote wanaotawala kwa haki.
By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
17 Nawapenda wale wanaonipenda, na wale wanaonitafuta kwa bidii, wataniona.
I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
18 Kwangu kunautajiri na heshima, utajiri wa kudumu na haki.
Wealth and glory belong to me; yes, abundant possessions and righteousness.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu, bora hata kuliko dhahabu safi.
[It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
20 Ninazalisha kilicho bora kuliko fedha safi. Natembea katika njia ya haki,
I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;
21 katika mapito ambayo huelekea kwenye haki, ili niwape urithi wale wanaonipenda na kuzijaza hazina zao.
that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember [also] to recount the things of old.
22 Yehova aliniumba tokea mwanzo- mwazoni mwa matendo yake ya nyakati za kale.
The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
23 Tokea enzi za kale niliwekwa katika nafasi- tokea kwanza, tokea mwanzo wa dunia.
He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
24 Kabla ya bahari, mimi nilizaliwa- kabla ya kuwepo chemchemi zenye maji tele.
even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
25 Kabla ya milima na vilima kuwekwa, mimi nilizaliwa.
before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
26 Nilizaliwa kabla ya Yehova hajaiumba dunia wala makonde, hata mavumbi ya kwanza katika dunia.
The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziimarisha mbingu, wakati alipochora mstari katika sura ya kilindi.
When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
28 Nilikuwepo alipoimarisha anga la juu na wakati wa kutengeneza kina cha chemchemi.
and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
29 Nilikuwepo alipotengeneza mipaka ya bahari, ili maji yasisambae kuvuka pale alipoyaamuru, na wakati anaamuru misingi ya dunia sehemu ya kukaa.
decree. and when he strengthened 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 by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
31 Nilikuwa nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote na furaha yangu ilikuwa kwa wana wa wanadamu.
For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
32 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni, maana wale wazishikao njia zangu watakuwa na furaha.
Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall listen to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
33 Sikilizeni fundisho langu na mpate hekima; wala msilipuuze.
[Hear wisdom and be wise, and be not strangers to it. ]
34 Anisikilizaye atakuwa na furaha- kila siku akitazama katika malango yangu, akinisubiri pembeni mwa milango ya masikani yangu.
watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
35 Maana yeyote anionaye mimi, anapata uzima, naye atapata kibali kwa Yehova.
For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favor from the Lord.
36 Na yeyote asiyeniona mimi, hujiumiza mwenyewe, wote wanaonichukia hupenda mauti.
But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
