Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, who reigned in Israel;
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
to know wisdom and instruction, and to perceive words of understanding;
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
to receive also hard saying, and to understand true justice, and [how] to direct judgment;
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
that he might give subtlety to the simple, and to the young man discernment and understanding.
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
For by the hearing of these a wise man will be wiser, and man of understanding will gain direction;
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
and will understand a parable, and a dark speech; the saying of the wise also, and riddles.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and [there is] good understanding to all that practise it: and piety toward God is the beginning of discernment; but the ungodly will set at nought wisdom and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
Hear, [my] son, the instruction of thy father, and reject not the rules of thy mother.
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
For thou shalt receive for thine head a crown of graces, and a chain of gold round thy neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
[My] son, let not ungodly men lead thee astray, neither consent thou [to them].
11 Kama watasema, “haya tufuatae, tuvizie ili kufanya mauaji, tujifiche ili tuwashambulie watu wasio na hatia, pasipo sababu.
If they should exhort thee, saying, Come with us, partake in blood, and let us unjustly hide the just man in the earth:
12 Haya tuwameza wakiwa hai, kama kuzimu inavyowachukua wenye afya, na kuwa kama wale waangukao kwenye shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
and let us swallow him alive, as Hades [would], and remove the memorial of him from the earth: (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
let us seize on his valuable property, and let us fill our houses with spoils:
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
but do thou cast in thy lot with us, and let us all provide a common purse, and let us have one pouch:
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
go not in the way with them, but turn aside thy foot from their paths:
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
[For their feet run to do evil, and are swift to shed blood. ]
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
for nets are not without cause spread for birds.
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
For they that are concerned in murder store up evils for themselves; and the overthrow of transgressors is evil.
19 Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
These are the ways of all that perform lawless deeds; for by ungodliness they destroy their own life.
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom sings aloud in passages, and in the broad places speaks boldly.
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
And she makes proclamation on the top of the walls, and sits by the gates of princes; and at the gates of the city boldly says,
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
So long as the simple cleave to justice, they shall not be ashamed: but the foolish being lovers of haughtiness, having become ungodly have hated knowledge, and are become subject to reproofs.
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
Behold, I will bring forth to you the utterance of my breath, and I will instruct you in my speech.
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
Since I called, and ye did not hearken; and I spoke at length, and ye gave no heed;
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
but ye set at nought my counsels, and disregarded my reproofs;
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
therefore I also will laugh at your destruction; and I will rejoice against [you] when ruin comes upon you:
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
yea when dismay suddenly comes upon you, and [your] overthrow shall arrive like a tempest; and when tribulation and distress shall come upon you, or when ruin shall come upon you.
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
For it shall be that when ye call upon me, I will not hearken to you: wicked men shall seek me, but shall not find [me].
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
For they hated wisdom, and did not choose the word of the Lord:
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
neither would they attend to my counsels, but derided my reproofs.
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
Therefore shall they eat the fruits of their own way, and shall be filled with their own ungodliness.
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
For because they wronged the simple, they shall be slain; and an inquisition shall ruin the ungodly.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
But he that hearkens to me shall dwell in confidence, and shall rest securely from all evil.
