Proverbs 24
1 Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.
Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
2 For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.
kwa maana mioyo yao hupanga mambo ya jeuri, nayo midomo yao husema juu ya kuleta madhara.
3 By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.
Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
4 By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.
kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
5 A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.
Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
6 For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.
kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
7 Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.
Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
8 Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.
Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
9 The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.
Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
10 If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.
Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
11 Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.
Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
12 If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.
Kama mkisema, “Lakini hatukujua lolote kuhusu hili,” je, yule apimaye mioyo halitambui hili? Je, yule awalindaye maisha yenu halijui hili? Je, hatamlipa kila mtu kulingana na aliyotenda?
13 My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.
Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
14 So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.
Ujue pia kwamba hekima ni tamu kwa nafsi yako, kama ukiipata, kuna matumaini kwako ya siku zijazo, nalo tumaini lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
15 Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
16 For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.
Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.
17 When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,
Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.
18 lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.
Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.
19 Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.
Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
20 For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.
kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.
Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,
22 For their perdition shall rise up suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?
kwa maana hao wawili watatuma maangamizi ya ghafula juu yao, naye ni nani ajuaye maafa wawezayo kuleta?
23 Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.
Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
24 Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.
Yeyote amwambiaye mwenye hatia, “Wewe huna hatia,” Kabila zitamlaani na mataifa yatamkana.
25 Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.
Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
26 He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.
Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
27 Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.
Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
28 Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.
Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.
Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”
30 I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,
Nilipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, karibu na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili,
31 and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.
miiba ilikuwa imeota kila mahali, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa na magugu, na ukuta wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
32 When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.
Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
33 You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.
Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
34 And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”
hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
