Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.
11 Kama watasema, “haya tufuatae, tuvizie ili kufanya mauaji, tujifiche ili tuwashambulie watu wasio na hatia, pasipo sababu.
If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush 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 alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
19 Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
“How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
So they will eat 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 waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”
