Mithali 9
1 Hekima amejenga nyumba yake; amechonga nguzo saba kutoka katika miamba.
[It is as though] wisdom [is a woman who] has built a [big] house for herself, and has set up seven columns [to support the roof],
2 Ameandaa wanyama wake kwa chakula cha usiku; ameichanganya divai yake; na kuandaa meza yake.
and has slaughtered an animal [and cooked the meat], and has mixed [nice spices] in the wine, and has put [the food] on the table.
3 Amewatuma watumishi wake kupeleka mialiko na kutoka mahali pa juu sana kwenye mji anaita:
[It is as though then] she sent out her servant women to call out from the highest place in the town,
4 “Wale wasiofunzwa waje hapa!” anawaambia wale wasionaufahamu.
“You people who need to understand more, come in!” And to those who are ignorant, [it is as though] she calls out,
5 Njoo, ule chakula, na unywe divai nimeshaichanganya.
“Come and eat the food that I [have prepared], and drink the [good] wine that I have mixed!
6 Acheni njia zenu za kijinga, na mkaishi; tembeeni katika njia ya ufahamu.
(Leave/Go away from) [other] foolish people, and [if you do that, you will continue to] live. Walk on the road that will enable you to (have knowledge/know what is true and what is not true).”
7 Yeyote amrekebishaye mwenye dhihaka hukaribisha matusi na yeyote anayemshutumu mtu mbaya atapata madhara.
If you rebuke someone who will not allow others to correct him, he will insult you. If you reprove/scold an evil man, he will hurt you.
8 Usimshutumu mwenye dhihaka, ama atakuchukia; mshutumu mtu mwenye busara, naye atakupenda.
Do not rebuke someone who will not allow others to (correct him/tell him what he has done is wrong), because he will hate you for doing that. [But] if you rebuke a wise person, he will respect you.
9 Mpe mafundisho mtu mwenye busara, naye atakuwa na busara zaidi; mfundishe mtu mwenye haki, naye ataongeza elimu.
If you give instruction to wise people, they will become wiser. And if you teach righteous people, they will learn more.
10 Hofu ya Mungu ni chanzo cha hekima na maarifa ya Mtakatifu ni ufahamu.
If you want to be wise, you must start by revering Yahweh, and if you know God, the Holy One, you will understand [which teachings are wise/true].
11 Maana kwa njia yangu siku zako zitazidishwa na uzima wako utaongezewa miaka.
If you become wise, you will live many years [DOU].
12 Kama unahekima, unahekima kwako mwenyewe, lakini ukidharau, utaibeba peke yako.
If you are wise, you are the one who will benefit from it; if you ridicule [becoming wise], you are the one who will suffer.
13 Mwanamke mpumbavu anakelele nyingi- hajafunzwa wala haelewi chochote.
Foolish women talk loudly; they are ignorant and are never ashamed [of the wrong things that they do].
14 Anakaa kwenye mlango wa nyumba yake, kwenye kiti cha sehemu ya juu sana ya mji.
They sit at the doors of their houses [or] they sit on the top [of the hills] in the town,
15 Anawaita kwa sauti wanaopita karibu, watu wale wanaotembea wima katika njia zao.
and they call out to the men who are passing by, who are trying to be concerned with their own affairs,
16 Wale ambao hamjafunzwa njoni hapa ndani!” anawaambia wale wasio na akili. “
“You people who need to understand more, come into [my house]!” And to those who are ignorant, they call out,
17 Maji ya kuiba ni matamu na mkate unaoliwa kwa siri unapendeza.”
“[Just as] water which you have stolen tastes very good and food that you eat by yourself tastes the best, [if you have sex secretly with someone to whom you are not married, you will enjoy it very much].”
