Mithali 8
1 Je, hekima haitani? Je, ufahamu hapazi sauti?
Thou shalt proclaim wisdom, that understanding may be obedient to thee.
2 Juu ya miinuko karibu na njia, penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo;
For she is on lofty eminences, and stands in the midst of the ways.
3 kando ya malango yaelekeayo mjini, kwenye maingilio, hulia kwa sauti kubwa, akisema:
For she sits by the gates of princes, and sings in the entrances, [saying],
4 “Ni ninyi wanaume, ninaowaita; ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wanadamu wote.
You, O men, I exhort; and utter my voice to the sons of men.
5 Ninyi ambao ni wajinga, pateni akili; ninyi mlio wapumbavu, pateni ufahamu.
O ye simple, understand subtlety, and ye that are untaught, imbibe knowledge.
6 Sikilizeni, kwa maana nina mambo muhimu ya kusema; ninafungua midomo yangu kusema lililo sawa.
Hearken to me; for I will speak solemn [truths]; and will produce right [sayings] from my lips.
7 Kinywa changu husema lililo kweli, kwa maana midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
For my throat shall meditate truth; and false lips are an abomination before me.
8 Maneno yote ya kinywa changu ni haki; hakuna mojawapo lililopotoka wala ukaidi.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing in them wrong or perverse.
9 Kwa wenye kupambanua yote ni sahihi; hayana kasoro kwa wale wenye maarifa.
They are all evident to those that understand, and right to those that find knowledge.
10 Chagua mafundisho yangu badala ya fedha, maarifa badala ya dhahabu safi,
Receive instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than tried gold.
11 kwa maana hekima ina thamani kuliko marijani na hakuna chochote unachohitaji kinacholingana naye.
For wisdom is better than precious stones; and no valuable substance is of equal worth with it.
12 “Mimi hekima, nakaa pamoja na busara; ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I wisdom have dwelt [with] counsel and knowledge, and I have called upon understanding.
13 Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; ninachukia kiburi na majivuno, tabia mbaya na mazungumzo potovu.
The fear of the Lord hates unrighteousness, and insolence, and pride, and the ways of wicked men; and I hate the perverse ways of bad men.
14 Ushauri na hukumu sahihi ni vyangu; nina ufahamu na nina nguvu.
Counsel and safety are mine; prudence is mine, and strength is mine.
15 Kwa msaada wangu wafalme hutawala na watawala hutunga sheria zilizo za haki,
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, na wenye vyeo wote watawalao dunia.
By me nobles become great, and monarchs by me rule over the earth.
17 Nawapenda wale wanipendao, na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
I love those that love me; and they that seek me shall find [me].
18 Utajiri na heshima viko kwangu, utajiri udumuo na mafanikio.
Wealth and glory belong to me; yea, abundant possessions and righteousness.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu safi; kile nitoacho hupita fedha iliyo bora.
[It is] better to have my fruit than [to have] gold and precious stones; and my produce is better than choice silver.
20 Natembea katika njia ya unyofu katika mapito ya haki,
I walk in ways of righteousness, and [am] conversant with the paths of judgment;
21 nawapa utajiri wale wanipendao na kuzijaza hazina zao.
that I may divide substance to them that love me, and may fill their treasures with good things. If I declare to you the things that daily happen, I will remember [also] to recount the things of old.
22 “Bwana aliniumba mwanzoni mwa kazi yake, kabla ya matendo yake ya zamani;
The Lord made me the beginning of his ways for his works.
23 niliteuliwa tangu milele, tangu mwanzoni, kabla ya dunia kuumbwa.
He established me before time [was] in the beginning, before he made the earth:
24 Wakati hazijakuwepo bahari, nilikwishazaliwa, wakati hazijakuwepo chemchemi zilizojaa maji;
even before he made the depths; before the fountains of water came forth:
25 kabla milima haijawekwa mahali pake, kabla vilima havijakuwepo, nilikwishazaliwa,
before the mountains were settled, and before all hills, he begets me.
26 kabla hajaumba dunia wala mashamba yake au vumbi lolote la dunia.
The Lord made countries and uninhabited [tracks], and the highest inhabited parts of the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziweka mbingu mahali pake, wakati alichora mstari wa upeo wa macho juu ya uso wa kilindi,
When he prepared the heaven, I was present with him; and when he prepared his throne upon the winds:
28 wakati aliweka mawingu juu na kuziweka imara chemchemi za bahari,
and when he strengthened the clouds above; and when he secured the fountains of the earth:
29 wakati aliiwekea bahari mpaka wake ili maji yasivunje agizo lake, na wakati aliweka misingi ya dunia.
decree. and when he strengthened the foundations of the earth:
30 Wakati huo nilikuwa fundi stadi kando yake. Nilijazwa na furaha siku baada ya siku, nikifurahi daima mbele zake,
I was by him, suiting [myself to him], I was that wherein he took delight; and daily I rejoiced in his presence continually.
31 nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote nami nikiwafurahia wanadamu.
For he rejoiced when he had completed the world, and rejoiced among the children of men.
32 “Basi sasa wanangu, nisikilizeni; heri wale wanaozishika njia zangu.
Now then, [my] son, hear me: blessed is the man who shall hearken to me, and the mortal who shall keep my ways;
33 Sikilizeni mafundisho yangu mwe na hekima; msiyapuuze.
[Hear wisdom and be wise, and ] [be not strangers to it. ]
34 Heri mtu yule anisikilizaye mimi, akisubiri siku zote malangoni mwangu, akingoja kwenye vizingiti vya mlango wangu.
watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my entrances.
35 Kwa maana yeyote anipataye mimi amepata uzima na kujipatia kibali kutoka kwa Bwana.
For my outgoings are the outgoings of life, and [in them] is prepared favour from the Lord.
36 Lakini yeyote ashindwaye kunipata hujiumiza mwenyewe; na wote wanichukiao mimi hupenda mauti.”
But they that sin against me act wickedly against their own souls: and they that hate me love death.
