Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My sonne, if sinners doe intise 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 vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:
12 Haya tuwameza wakiwa hai, kama kuzimu inavyowachukua wenye afya, na kuwa kama wale waangukao kwenye shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit: (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.
19 Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge?
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
(Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
Because I haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde.
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction and anguish shall come vpon you,
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me,
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
Because they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord.
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.
