Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
To understand a proverb, and a figure, The words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; [But] the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.
11 Kama watasema, “haya tufuatae, tuvizie ili kufanya mauaji, tujifiche ili tuwashambulie watu wasio na hatia, pasipo sababu.
If they say, Come with us, Let us lay wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;
12 Haya tuwameza wakiwa hai, kama kuzimu inavyowachukua wenye afya, na kuwa kama wale waangukao kwenye shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit; (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own lives.
19 Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
She crieth in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
I also will laugh in [the day of] your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
When your fear cometh as a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they shall not find me:
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah,
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
They would none of my counsel, They despised all my reproof.
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil.
