Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
These are the (proverbs/wise sayings) that come from Solomon, the King of Israel, who was the son of [King] David.
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
(These proverbs [PRS] can teach people/By studying these proverbs, people can learn) how to be wise and how to obey what these proverbs teach them. They will [also] help people to understand which teachings are wise.
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
These proverbs [PRS] will teach you how to discipline/control yourselves, how to conduct your lives, and how to do what is right and just [DOU].
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
They will show [people] who do not [yet] know much how to do things that are smart. They will show young people how to become wise and how to make good plans/decisions.
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
Those who are wise should also pay attention [to these proverbs], in order to become more wise, and those who understand [these teachings] will receive good advice/guidance.
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
Then they will be able to understand the meaning of proverbs and parables/metaphors, these wise sayings and (riddles/sayings that are difficult to understand).
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
If [you want to be] wise, you must begin by revering Yahweh. [Only] foolish people despise wisdom and good advice/discipline.
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
My son, pay attention to what [I], your father, am teaching you. And do not reject what your mother teaches you.
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
What we teach you [will make you respected like having] a lovely turban around your head and [like] a [beautiful] necklace to put around your neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My son, if sinners tempt/entice you [to do what is wrong], say “No” to them.
11 Kama watasema, “haya tufuatae, tuvizie ili kufanya mauaji, tujifiche ili tuwashambulie watu wasio na hatia, pasipo sababu.
They may say, “Come with us! Join us! We will hide and then kill [MTY] someone [who passes by]. We will ambush some helpless/innocent people.
12 Haya tuwameza wakiwa hai, kama kuzimu inavyowachukua wenye afya, na kuwa kama wale waangukao kwenye shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
We will kill them [HYP] and get rid of them completely, [just] like [people who are buried in] graves are gone forever. While they are in good health, we will send them to the place where dead people are. (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
And we will seize all the things that they own. We will fill our houses with these things!
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
[So], come with us! Join our group! We will share with you the things that we steal.”
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
My son, do not accompany them! Do not walk on the roads with them!
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
They rush to do evil deeds! They hurry to murder [MTY] people.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
It is useless to put out a (trap/net to catch a bird) because when a bird sees it, [it stays away from it].
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
But those wicked people are not like the birds, [because they do not realize] that when they prepare to ambush someone to kill him, they will be killed themselves!
19 Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
That is what happens to people who eagerly try to get things [by violently attacking others]. They will only destroy themselves!
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom [PRS] shouts to people in the streets, and calls out to people in the (plazas/town squares).
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
Wisdom calls out in noisy places, and at the entrances to cities.
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
[Wisdom says], “How long will you stupid people continue to enjoy doing foolish things [RHQ]? How long will you people who ridicule God enjoy doing that [RHQ]? How long will you foolish people refuse to know [what things are right] [RHQ]?
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
If you pay attention to me when I rebuke you, I will tell you what I am thinking in my inner being; I will give you some good advice.
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
But when I called to you, you refused to listen. I beckoned to you to come to me, but you ignored me.
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
I tried to advise you, but you refused to listen to me. I tried to correct you, but you rejected what I told you.
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
So [now], when you are experiencing troubles/disasters, I will laugh at you. When things happen that cause you to be afraid, I will make fun of you.
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
When calamities strike you like a big storm, when disasters hit you like a violent wind, when [all kinds of things] distress you and give you trouble, [I will ridicule you!]
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
[Wisdom also says], “When foolish people call to me [to help them], I will not answer them. They will search for me diligently/everywhere, but they will not find me.
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
They refused to know [what things are right], and they decided not to revere Yahweh.
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
They would not accept my advice, and they did not pay attention when I tried to correct them.
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
So they will endure what will result [MET, DOU] from the evil way they have lived/behaved and the evil things they have planned to do.
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
Those who turn away from me are stupid/foolish; they will die because of doing that.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
But those who pay attention to me will live peacefully and safely, and they will not be afraid that something will harm them.”
