Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
The parables 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:
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
To understand the words of prudence: and to receive the instruction of doctrine, justice, and judgment, and equity:
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
To give subtilty to little ones, to the young man knowledge and understanding.
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
A wise man shall hear and shall be wiser: and he that understandeth, shall possess governments.
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
He shall understand a parable, and the interpretation, the words of the wise, and their mysterious sayings.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools 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.
That grace may be added to thy head, and a chain of gold to thy neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My son, if sinners shall entice thee, consent not to them.
11 Kama watasema, “haya tufuatae, tuvizie ili kufanya mauaji, tujifiche ili tuwashambulie watu wasio na hatia, pasipo sababu.
If they shall say: Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood, let us hide snares 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 him up alive like hell, and whole as one that goeth 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 spoils.
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
Cast in thy lot with us, let us all have one purse.
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
My son, walk not thou with them, restrain thy foot from their paths.
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
But a net is spread in vain before the eyes of them that have wings.
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
And they themselves lie in wait for their own blood, and practise deceits against their own souls.
19 Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
So the wage of every covetous man destroy the souls of the possessors.
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom preacheth abroad, she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
At the head of multitudes she crieth out, in the entrance of the gates of the city she uttereth her words, saying:
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
O children, how long will you love childishness, and fools covet those things which are hurtful to themselves, and the unwise hate knowledge?
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
Turn ye at my reproof: behold I will utter my spirit to you, and will shew you my words.
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
Because I called, and you refused: I stretched out my hand, and there was none that regarded.
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
You have despised all my counsel, and have neglected my reprehensions.
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared.
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
When sudden calamity shall fall on you, and destruction, as a tempest, shall be at hand: when tribulation and distress shall come upon you:
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
Then shall they call upon me, and I will not hear: they shall rise in the morning and shall not find me:
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
Because they have hated instruction and received not the fear of the Lord,
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
Nor consented to my counsel, but despised all my reproof.
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and shall be filled with their own devices.
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
The turning away of little ones shall kill them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
But he that shall hear me, shall rest without terror, and shall enjoy abundance, without fear of evils.
