Mithali 23
1 Uketipo kula chakula na mtawala, angalia vyema kile kilicho mbele yako,
If thou sit to sup at the table of a prince, consider attentively the things set before thee:
2 na utie kisu kooni mwako kama ukiwa mlafi.
and apply thine hand, knowing that it behoves thee to prepare such [meats]: but if thou art very insatiable,
3 Usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu kwa kuwa chakula hicho ni cha hila.
desire not his provisions; for these belong to a false life.
4 Usijitaabishe ili kuupata utajiri, uwe na hekima kuonyesha kujizuia.
If thou art poor, measure not thyself with a rich man; but refrain thyself in thy wisdom.
5 Kufumba na kufumbua utajiri hutoweka, huwa kama umepata mabawa ghafula, ukaruka na kutoweka angani kama tai.
If thou shouldest fix thine eye upon him, he will disappear; for wings like an eagle's are prepared for him, and he returns to the house of his master.
6 Usile chakula cha mtu mchoyo, usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu,
Sup not with an envious man, neither desire thou his meats:
7 kwa maana yeye ni aina ya mtu ambaye kila mara anafikiri juu ya gharama. Anakuambia, “Kula na kunywa,” lakini moyo wake hauko pamoja nawe.
so he eats and drinks as if any one should swallow a hair, and do not bring him in to thyself, nor eat thy morsel with him:
8 Utatapika kile kidogo ulichokula, nawe utakuwa umepoteza bure maneno yako ya kumsifu.
for he will vomit it up, and spoil thy fair words.
9 Usizungumze na mpumbavu, kwa maana atadhihaki hekima ya maneno yako.
Say nothing in the ears of a fool, lest at any time he sneer at thy wise words.
10 Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani wala kunyemelea kwenye mashamba ya yatima,
Remove not the ancient landmarks; and enter not upon the possession of the fatherless:
11 kwa kuwa Mtetezi wao ni mwenye nguvu, atalichukua shauri lao dhidi yako.
for the Lord is their redeemer; he is mighty, and will plead their cause with thee.
12 Elekeza moyo wako kwenye mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
Apply thine heart to instruction, and prepare thine ears for words of discretion.
13 Usimnyime mtoto adhabu, ukimwadhibu kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Refrain not from chastening a child; for if thou beat him with the rod, he shall not die.
For thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from death. (Sheol h7585)
15 Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una hekima, basi moyo wangu utafurahi,
Son, if thy heart be wise, thou shalt also gladden my heart;
16 utu wangu wa ndani utafurahi, wakati midomo yako itakapozungumza lililo sawa.
and thy lips shall converse with my lips, if they be right.
17 Usiuruhusu moyo wako kuwaonea wivu wenye dhambi, bali kila mara uwe na bidii katika kumcha Bwana.
Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the Lord all the day.
18 Hakika kuna tumaini la baadaye kwa ajili yako, nalo tarajio lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
For if thou shouldest keep these things, thou shalt have posterity; and thine hope shall not be removed.
19 Sikiliza, mwanangu na uwe na hekima, weka moyo wako kwenye njia iliyo sawa.
Hear, [my] son, and be wise, and rightly direct the thoughts of thine heart.
20 Usiwe miongoni mwa wanywao mvinyo, au wale walao nyama kwa pupa,
Be not a wine-bibber, neither continue long at feasts, and purchases of flesh:
21 kwa maana walevi na walafi huwa maskini, nako kusinzia huwavika matambara.
for every drunkard and whoremonger shall be poor; and every sluggard shall clothe himself with tatters and ragged garments.
22 Msikilize baba yako, aliyekuzaa, wala usimdharau mama yako atakapokuwa mzee.
Hearken, [my] son, to thy father which begot thee, and despise not [thy mother] because she is grown old.
23 Nunua kweli wala usiiuze, pata hekima, adabu na ufahamu.
24 Baba wa mwenye haki ana furaha kubwa, naye aliye na mwana mwenye hekima humfurahia.
A righteous father brings up [his children] well; and his soul rejoices over a wise son.
25 Baba yako na mama yako na wafurahi, mama aliyekuzaa na ashangilie!
Let thy father and thy mother rejoice over thee, and let her that bore thee be glad.
26 Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako, macho yako na yafuate njia zangu,
[My] son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27 kwa maana kahaba ni shimo refu na mwanamke mpotovu ni kisima chembamba.
For a strange house is a vessel full of holes; and a strange well is narrow.
28 Kama mnyangʼanyi, hungojea akivizia, naye huzidisha wasio waaminifu miongoni mwa wanaume.
For such a one shall perish suddenly; and every transgressor shall be cut off.
29 Ni nani mwenye ole? Ni nani mwenye huzuni? Ni nani mwenye ugomvi? Ni nani mwenye malalamiko? Ni nani aliye na majeraha yasiyo na sababu? Ni nani mwenye macho mekundu?
Who [has] woe? who trouble? who [has] quarrels? and who vexations and disputes? who [has] bruises without a cause? whose eyes are livid?
30 Ni hao wakaao sana kwenye mvinyo, hao waendao kuonja mabakuli ya mvinyo uliochanganywa.
Are not those of them that stay long at wine? [are] not [those] of them that haunt [the places] where banquets are? Be not drunk with wine; but converse with just men, and converse [with them] openly.
31 Usiukodolee macho mvinyo wakati ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unapometameta kwenye bilauri, wakati ushukapo taratibu!
For if thou shouldest set thine eyes on bowls and cups, thou shalt afterwards go more naked than a pestle.
32 Mwishowe huuma kama nyoka na kutia sumu yake kama nyoka mwenye sumu.
But at last [such a one] stretches himself out as one smitten by a serpent, and venom is diffused through him as by a horned serpent.
33 Macho yako yataona mambo mageni na moyo wako kuwazia mambo yaliyopotoka.
Whenever thine eyes shall behold a strange woman, then thy mouth shall speak perverse things.
34 Utakuwa kama alalaye katikati ya bahari, alalaye juu ya kamba ya merikebu.
And thou shalt lie as in the midst of the sea, and as a pilot in a great storm.
35 Utasema, “Wamenipiga lakini sikuumia! Wamenichapa, lakini sisikii! Nitaamka lini ili nikanywe tena?”
And thou shalt say, They smote me, and I was not pained; and they mocked me, and I knew it not: when will it be morning, that I may go and seek those with whom I may go in company?
