Mithali 9
1 Hekima amejenga nyumba yake; amechonga nguzo saba kutoka katika miamba.
Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars.
2 Ameandaa wanyama wake kwa chakula cha usiku; ameichanganya divai yake; na kuandaa meza yake.
She hath killed her fatlings; She hath mingled her wine; Yea, she hath furnished her table.
3 Amewatuma watumishi wake kupeleka mialiko na kutoka mahali pa juu sana kwenye mji anaita:
She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth aloud upon the highest places of the city:
4 “Wale wasiofunzwa waje hapa!” anawaambia wale wasionaufahamu.
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither!” To him that is void of understanding she saith,
5 Njoo, ule chakula, na unywe divai nimeshaichanganya.
“Come, eat of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled!
6 Acheni njia zenu za kijinga, na mkaishi; tembeeni katika njia ya ufahamu.
Forsake folly, and live! And go forward in the way of understanding!
7 Yeyote amrekebishaye mwenye dhihaka hukaribisha matusi na yeyote anayemshutumu mtu mbaya atapata madhara.
“He who correcteth a scoffer Bringeth shame upon himself; And he who rebuketh the wicked Bringeth upon himself a stain.
8 Usimshutumu mwenye dhihaka, ama atakuchukia; mshutumu mtu mwenye busara, naye atakupenda.
Rebuke not a scoffer, lest he hate thee; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
9 Mpe mafundisho mtu mwenye busara, naye atakuwa na busara zaidi; mfundishe mtu mwenye haki, naye ataongeza elimu.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.
10 Hofu ya Mungu ni chanzo cha hekima na maarifa ya Mtakatifu ni ufahamu.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Most Holy is understanding.
11 Maana kwa njia yangu siku zako zitazidishwa na uzima wako utaongezewa miaka.
Yea, through me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
12 Kama unahekima, unahekima kwako mwenyewe, lakini ukidharau, utaibeba peke yako.
If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou art a scoffer, thou alone must bear it.”
13 Mwanamke mpumbavu anakelele nyingi- hajafunzwa wala haelewi chochote.
The foolish woman is clamorous; She is very simple, and careth for nothing.
14 Anakaa kwenye mlango wa nyumba yake, kwenye kiti cha sehemu ya juu sana ya mji.
She sitteth at the door of her house, Upon a seat in the high places of the city,
15 Anawaita kwa sauti wanaopita karibu, watu wale wanaotembea wima katika njia zao.
To call aloud to those that pass by, Who go straight forward in their ways,
16 Wale ambao hamjafunzwa njoni hapa ndani!” anawaambia wale wasio na akili. “
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in hither!” And to him that is void of understanding she saith,
17 Maji ya kuiba ni matamu na mkate unaoliwa kwa siri unapendeza.”
“Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
