Mithali 8
1 Je hekima haiti? Je ufahamu hapazi sauti yake?
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 Juu ya kilima kando ya barabara, kwenye njia panda, hekima anasimama.
She standeth on the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 Kando ya njia ya kuingilia mjini, karibu na milango ya mji, anaita kwa sauti.
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors.
4 Watu, ninawaita ninyi na ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wana wa wanadamu.
To you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5 Ninyi wajinga, jifunzeni hekima, na ninyi mnaochukia maarifa, lazima mjipatieni moyo wa ufahamu.
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Sikiliza na mimi nitasema mambo mazuri na nifumbuapo midomo yangu nitaongea haki.
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 Maana kinywa changu hunena uaminifu na midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 Maneno ya kinywa changu yote ni haki; hakuna kilichogeuzwa wala kupotoshwa.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
9 Maneno yangu yote yamenyooka kwa yule mwenye kuelewa; maneno yangu ni haki kwa wale wanaotafuta maarifa.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Chagua fundisho langu badala ya fedha na maarifa kuliko dhahabu safi.
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Maana mimi, hekima ni bora kuliko vito; hakuna unachokitamani kinaweza kulinganishwa na mimi.
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12 Mimi, hekima, naishi kwa utaratibu, na ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out 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 the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.
14 Ninaushauri mzuri na hekima sahihi; mimi ni busara; nguvu zipo kwangu.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
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 princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Nawapenda wale wanaonipenda, na wale wanaonitafuta kwa bidii, wataniona.
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18 Kwangu kunautajiri na heshima, utajiri wa kudumu na haki.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu, bora hata kuliko dhahabu safi.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20 Ninazalisha kilicho bora kuliko fedha safi. Natembea katika njia ya haki,
I lead in the way of righteousness, 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 cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasuries.
22 Yehova aliniumba tokea mwanzo- mwazoni mwa matendo yake ya nyakati za kale.
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23 Tokea enzi za kale niliwekwa katika nafasi- tokea kwanza, tokea mwanzo wa dunia.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 Kabla ya bahari, mimi nilizaliwa- kabla ya kuwepo chemchemi zenye maji tele.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Kabla ya milima na vilima kuwekwa, mimi nilizaliwa.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26 Nilizaliwa kabla ya Yehova hajaiumba dunia wala makonde, hata mavumbi ya kwanza katika dunia.
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziimarisha mbingu, wakati alipochora mstari katika sura ya kilindi.
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a circle upon the face of the depth:
28 Nilikuwepo alipoimarisha anga la juu na wakati wa kutengeneza kina cha chemchemi.
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29 Nilikuwepo alipotengeneza mipaka ya bahari, ili maji yasisambae kuvuka pale alipoyaamuru, na wakati anaamuru misingi ya dunia sehemu ya kukaa.
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30 Nilikuwa kando yake, kama fundistadi mkuu, na mimi nilikuwa furaha yake siku kwa siku, nikifurahi mbele zake daima.
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31 Nilikuwa nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote na furaha yangu ilikuwa kwa wana wa wanadamu.
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
32 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni, maana wale wazishikao njia zangu watakuwa na furaha.
Now therefore hearken to me, O ye children: for 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, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Maana yeyote anionaye mimi, anapata uzima, naye atapata kibali kwa Yehova.
For whoever findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour from the LORD.
36 Na yeyote asiyeniona mimi, hujiumiza mwenyewe, wote wanaonichukia hupenda mauti.
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
