Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, King of Israel:
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
For the knowledge of wisdom and correction, for discerning the sayings of intelligence;
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
For receiving the correction of prudence, righteousness and justice, and equity;
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
For giving To the simple shrewdness, To the young man, knowledge and discretion.
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
A wise man, will hear, and will increase learning, and a, discreet man, wise counsels, will acquire,
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
By gaining discernment of proverb, and satire, the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
The reverence of Yahweh, is the beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and correction, the foolish have despised.
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
Hear, my son, the correction of thy father, and do not reject the instruction of thy mother;
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
For, a wreath of beauty, shall they be to thy head, and chains of ornament, to thy neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My son, if sinners entice thee, do not consent.
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 lie in wait for blood, Let us watch in secret for him who is needlessly innocent;
12 Haya tuwameza wakiwa hai, kama kuzimu inavyowachukua wenye afya, na kuwa kama wale waangukao kwenye shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
Let us engulf them, like hades, alive, While in health, like them who are going down to the pit; (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
All costly substance, shall we find, We shall fill our houses with spoil;
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
Thy lot, shalt thou cast into our midst, One purse, shall there be, for us all.
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
My son, do not walk in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path.
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
For, their feet, to mischief, do run, and haste to the shedding of blood.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
Surely, in vain, is spread the net, in the sight of aught that hath wings!
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
Yet, they, for their own blood, lie in wait, They watch in secret for their own life.
19 Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
Such are the ways of every one that graspeth with greed, The life of the owners thereof, it taketh away!
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom, in the open place, soundeth forth, in the broadways, she raiseth her voice;
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
At the head of bustling streets, she crieth aloud, —at the openings of the gates in the city—her sayings, she doth utter: —
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, in scoffing, delight them? and, dullards, hate knowledge?
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
Will ye turn, at my reproof? Lo! I will pour out to you my spirit, I will make known my words to you.
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
Because I called, and ye refused, I stretched out my hand, and no one regarded;
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
But ye dismissed all my counsel, and, to my rebuke, would not yield,
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
I also, at your calamity, will laugh, I will mock, when cometh your dread;
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
When cometh as a crashing your dread, and, your calamity, as a storm-wind, overtaketh, when there come upon you, distress and anguish.
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
Then, will they call me, but I will not answer, they will seek me diligently, but shall not find me.
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
Because they hated knowledge, and, the reverence of Yahweh, did not choose;
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
Consented not to my counsel, disdained all my rebuke,
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, with their own counsels, be filled.
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
For, the turning away of the simple, will slay them, —and, the carelessness of dullards, will destroy them.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
Whereas, he that hearkeneth unto me, shall dwell safely, and be at rest, without dread of misfortune.
