Mithali 8
1 Je hekima haiti? Je ufahamu hapazi sauti yake?
Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
2 Juu ya kilima kando ya barabara, kwenye njia panda, hekima anasimama.
On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands.
3 Kando ya njia ya kuingilia mjini, karibu na milango ya mji, anaita kwa sauti.
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
4 Watu, ninawaita ninyi na ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wana wa wanadamu.
“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
5 Ninyi wajinga, jifunzeni hekima, na ninyi mnaochukia maarifa, lazima mjipatieni moyo wa ufahamu.
You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart!
6 Sikiliza na mimi nitasema mambo mazuri na nifumbuapo midomo yangu nitaongea haki.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things.
7 Maana kinywa changu hunena uaminifu na midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
For my mouth speaks truth. 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 who understands, right to those who find knowledge.
10 Chagua fundisho langu badala ya fedha na maarifa kuliko dhahabu safi.
Receive my instruction rather than silver, 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. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it.
12 Mimi, hekima, naishi kwa utaratibu, na ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. 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 Yahweh is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
14 Ninaushauri mzuri na hekima sahihi; mimi ni busara; nguvu zipo kwangu.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.
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, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.
17 Nawapenda wale wanaonipenda, na wale wanaonitafuta kwa bidii, wataniona.
I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me.
18 Kwangu kunautajiri na heshima, utajiri wa kudumu na haki.
With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu, bora hata kuliko dhahabu safi.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver.
20 Ninazalisha kilicho bora kuliko fedha safi. Natembea katika njia ya haki,
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice,
21 katika mapito ambayo huelekea kwenye haki, ili niwape urithi wale wanaonipenda na kuzijaza hazina zao.
that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries.
22 Yehova aliniumba tokea mwanzo- mwazoni mwa matendo yake ya nyakati za kale.
“Yahweh possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds 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, before the earth existed.
24 Kabla ya bahari, mimi nilizaliwa- kabla ya kuwepo chemchemi zenye maji tele.
When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Kabla ya milima na vilima kuwekwa, mimi nilizaliwa.
Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born;
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 beginning of the dust of the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziimarisha mbingu, wakati alipochora mstari katika sura ya kilindi.
When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep,
28 Nilikuwepo alipoimarisha anga la juu na wakati wa kutengeneza kina cha chemchemi.
when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong,
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 its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out 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 the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him,
31 Nilikuwa nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote na furaha yangu ilikuwa kwa wana wa wanadamu.
rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men.
32 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni, maana wale wazishikao njia zangu watakuwa na furaha.
“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Sikilizeni fundisho langu na mpate hekima; wala msilipuuze.
Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it.
34 Anisikilizaye atakuwa na furaha- kila siku akitazama katika malango yangu, akinisubiri pembeni mwa milango ya masikani yangu.
Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts.
35 Maana yeyote anionaye mimi, anapata uzima, naye atapata kibali kwa Yehova.
For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from Yahweh.
36 Na yeyote asiyeniona mimi, hujiumiza mwenyewe, wote wanaonichukia hupenda mauti.
But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”
