< Proverbs 1 >

1 The Parables of Salomon the sonne of Dauid King of Israel,
Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
2 To knowe wisdome, and instruction, to vnderstand ye wordes of knowledge,
Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
3 To receiue instruction to do wisely, by iustice and iudgement and equitie,
ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
4 To giue vnto the simple, sharpenesse of wit, and to the childe knowledge and discretion.
Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
5 A wise man shall heare and increase in learning, and a man of vnderstanding shall attayne vnto wise counsels,
Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
6 To vnderstand a parable, and the interpretation, the wordes of ye wise, and their darke sayings.
kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
7 The feare of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fooles despise wisedome and instruction.
Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
8 My sonne, heare thy fathers instruction, and forsake not thy mothers teaching.
Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
9 For they shalbe a comely ornament vnto thine head, and as chaines for thy necke.
zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
10 My sonne, if sinners doe intise thee, consent thou not.
Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
11 If they say, Come with vs, we will lay waite for blood, and lie priuilie for the innocent without a cause:
Kama watasema, “haya tufuatae, tuvizie ili kufanya mauaji, tujifiche ili tuwashambulie watu wasio na hatia, pasipo sababu.
12 We wil swallow them vp aliue like a graue euen whole, as those that goe downe into the pit: (Sheol h7585)
Haya tuwameza wakiwa hai, kama kuzimu inavyowachukua wenye afya, na kuwa kama wale waangukao kwenye shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
13 We shall finde all precious riches, and fill our houses with spoyle:
Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
14 Cast in thy lot among vs: we will all haue one purse:
Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
15 My sonne, walke not thou in the way with them: refraine thy foote from their path.
Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
16 For their feete runne to euill, and make haste to shed blood.
miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
17 Certainely as without cause the net is spred before the eyes of all that hath wing:
Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
18 So they lay waite for blood and lie priuily for their liues.
Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
19 Such are the wayes of euery one that is greedy of gaine: he would take away the life of the owners thereof.
Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
20 Wisdome cryeth without: she vttereth her voyce in the streetes.
Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
21 She calleth in the hye streete, among the prease in the entrings of the gates, and vttereth her wordes in the citie, saying,
katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
22 O ye foolish, howe long will ye loue foolishnes? and the scornefull take their pleasure in scorning, and the fooles hate knowledge?
Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
23 (Turne you at my correction: loe, I will powre out my mind vnto you, and make you vnderstand my wordes)
Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
24 Because I haue called, and ye refused: I haue stretched out mine hand, and none woulde regarde.
Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
25 But ye haue despised all my counsell, and would none of my correction.
Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
26 I will also laugh at your destruction, and mocke, when your feare commeth.
Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
27 Whe your feare cometh like sudden desolation, and your destruction shall come like a whirle wind: whe affliction and anguish shall come vpon you,
hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
28 Then shall they call vpon me, but I will not answere: they shall seeke me early, but they shall not finde me,
Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
29 Because they hated knowledge, and did not chuse the feare of the Lord.
Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
30 They would none of my counsell, but despised all my correction.
hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
31 Therefore shall they eate of ye fruite of their owne way, and be filled with their owne deuises.
Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
32 For ease slaieth the foolish, and the prosperitie of fooles destroyeth them.
kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
33 But he that obeyeth me, shall dwell safely, and be quiet from feare of euill.
Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.

< Proverbs 1 >