Mithali 8
1 Je hekima haiti? Je ufahamu hapazi sauti yake?
Does not Wisdom call out? Does not Understanding raise her voice?
2 Juu ya kilima kando ya barabara, kwenye njia panda, hekima anasimama.
On the hilltops beside the road, at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.
3 Kando ya njia ya kuingilia mjini, karibu na milango ya mji, anaita kwa sauti.
Before the gates at the entrance into the city, at the entrances into the city, she calls out.
4 Watu, ninawaita ninyi na ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wana wa wanadamu.
“It is to you, people, that I call; my voice is for the sons of mankind.
5 Ninyi wajinga, jifunzeni hekima, na ninyi mnaochukia maarifa, lazima mjipatieni moyo wa ufahamu.
You who are naive, learn wisdom; and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.
6 Sikiliza na mimi nitasema mambo mazuri na nifumbuapo midomo yangu nitaongea haki.
Listen, because I will speak of noble things, and when my lips open I will say upright things.
7 Maana kinywa changu hunena uaminifu na midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8 Maneno ya kinywa changu yote ni haki; hakuna kilichogeuzwa wala kupotoshwa.
All the words of my mouth are just; in them is nothing twisted or misleading.
9 Maneno yangu yote yamenyooka kwa yule mwenye kuelewa; maneno yangu ni haki kwa wale wanaotafuta maarifa.
All of them are straight for the person who understands; my words are upright for those who find knowledge.
10 Chagua fundisho langu badala ya fedha na maarifa kuliko dhahabu safi.
Acquire my instruction rather than silver; acquire knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 Maana mimi, hekima ni bora kuliko vito; hakuna unachokitamani kinaweza kulinganishwa na mimi.
For Wisdom is better than jewels; no treasure is equal to her.
12 Mimi, hekima, naishi kwa utaratibu, na ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I, Wisdom, live with Prudence, and I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 Hofu ya Mungu ni kuchukia uovu- nachukia majivuno na kiburi, njia ya uovu, na kauli iliyopotoka- hivyo ninavichukia.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way, and perverted speech. I hate them.
14 Ninaushauri mzuri na hekima sahihi; mimi ni busara; nguvu zipo kwangu.
I have good advice and sound wisdom; I am insight; strength belongs to me.
15 Kwa njia yangu wafalme hutawala- pia na waungwana, na wote ambao hutawala kwa haki.
By me kings reign, and rulers make laws that are just.
16 Kwa njia yangu wafalme hutawala na waungwana na wote wanaotawala kwa haki.
By me princes rule, nobles, and all who govern with justice.
17 Nawapenda wale wanaonipenda, na wale wanaonitafuta kwa bidii, wataniona.
I love those who love me, and those who diligently seek me, find me.
18 Kwangu kunautajiri na heshima, utajiri wa kudumu na haki.
With me are riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu, bora hata kuliko dhahabu safi.
My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold; my produce is better than pure silver.
20 Ninazalisha kilicho bora kuliko fedha safi. Natembea katika njia ya haki,
I walk in the path of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice.
21 katika mapito ambayo huelekea kwenye haki, ili niwape urithi wale wanaonipenda na kuzijaza hazina zao.
As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth; I fill up their treasuries.
22 Yehova aliniumba tokea mwanzo- mwazoni mwa matendo yake ya nyakati za kale.
Yahweh created me at the beginning, the first of his deeds then.
23 Tokea enzi za kale niliwekwa katika nafasi- tokea kwanza, tokea mwanzo wa dunia.
In ages long ago I was made—from the first, from the beginnings of the earth.
24 Kabla ya bahari, mimi nilizaliwa- kabla ya kuwepo chemchemi zenye maji tele.
Before there were oceans, I was given birth— before there were springs abounding with water.
25 Kabla ya milima na vilima kuwekwa, mimi nilizaliwa.
Before the mountains were settled and before the hills, I was born.
26 Nilizaliwa kabla ya Yehova hajaiumba dunia wala makonde, hata mavumbi ya kwanza katika dunia.
I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields, or even the first dust in the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziimarisha mbingu, wakati alipochora mstari katika sura ya kilindi.
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.
28 Nilikuwepo alipoimarisha anga la juu na wakati wa kutengeneza kina cha chemchemi.
I was there when he established the clouds above and when the springs in the deep became fixed.
29 Nilikuwepo alipotengeneza mipaka ya bahari, ili maji yasisambae kuvuka pale alipoyaamuru, na wakati anaamuru misingi ya dunia sehemu ya kukaa.
I was there when he made his limit for the sea, so the waters should not spread beyond his command, and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.
30 Nilikuwa kando yake, kama fundistadi mkuu, na mimi nilikuwa furaha yake siku kwa siku, nikifurahi mbele zake daima.
I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman; I was his delight day after day, always rejoicing before him.
31 Nilikuwa nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote na furaha yangu ilikuwa kwa wana wa wanadamu.
I was rejoicing in his whole world, and my delight was in the sons of mankind.
32 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni, maana wale wazishikao njia zangu watakuwa na furaha.
Now, my sons, listen to me, for those who keep my ways will be blessed.
33 Sikilizeni fundisho langu na mpate hekima; wala msilipuuze.
Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not neglect it.
34 Anisikilizaye atakuwa na furaha- kila siku akitazama katika malango yangu, akinisubiri pembeni mwa milango ya masikani yangu.
The one who listens to me will be blessed. He will be watching every day at my doors, waiting beside the posts of my doors.
35 Maana yeyote anionaye mimi, anapata uzima, naye atapata kibali kwa Yehova.
For whoever finds me, finds life, and he will find the favor of Yahweh.
36 Na yeyote asiyeniona mimi, hujiumiza mwenyewe, wote wanaonichukia hupenda mauti.
But he who fails, harms his own life; all who hate me love death.”
