Proverbs 4
1 Hear, all of you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
Wanangu, sikilizeni, fundisho la baba, na zingatieni ili mjue maana ya ufahamu.
2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake all of you not my law.
Mimi ninawapa mafundisho mazuri; msiyaache mafundisho yangu.
3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
Mimi nilikuwa mwana kwa baba yangu, mpole na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,
4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let your heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
baba alinifundisha akiniambia, “Moyo wako uzingatie sana maneno yangu; shika amri zangu nawe uishi.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
Jipatie hekima na ufahamu; usisahau na kuyakataa maneno ya kinywa changu;
6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you.
usiiache hekima nayo itakulinda; ipenda nayo itakuhifadhi salama.
7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.
Hekima ni kitu cha muhimu sana, hivyo jipatie hekima na tumia namna zote kuweza kupata ufahamu.
8 Exalt her, and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honour, when you do embrace her.
Tunza hekima nayo itakutukuza; ikumbatie nayo itakuheshimu.
9 She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you.
Hekima itaweka kilemba cha heshima juu ya kichwa chako; itakupa taji zuri.
10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.
Mwanangu, sikiliza, na kuzingatia maneno yangu, nawe utapata miaka mingi ya maisha yako.
11 I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths.
Ninakuelekeza katika njia ya hekima, nimekuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.
12 When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble.
Unapotembea, hakuna atakayesimama katika njia yako na kama ukikimbia hutajikwaa.
13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is your life.
Shika mwongozo wala usiuache, utakuongoza, maana ni uzima wako.
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Usifuate njia ya waovu wala usiende katika njia ya watendao uovu.
15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
Jiepushe nayo, usipite katika njia hiyo; geuka na upite njia nyingine.
16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
Maana hawawezi kulala mpaka wafanye ubaya na hupotewa na usingizi hadi wasababishe mtu kujikwaa.
17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Maana wao hula mkate wa uovu na hunywa divai ya vurugu.
18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.
Bali njia ya mwenye kutenda haki ni kama mwanga ung'aao, huangaza zaidi na zaidi hadi mchana inapowasili kwa ukamilifu.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
Njia ya waovu ni kama giza - hawajui ni kitu gani huwa wanajikwaa juu yake.
20 My son, attend to my words; incline your ear unto my sayings.
Mwanangu, zingatia maneno yangu; sikiliza kauli zangu.
21 Let them not depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart.
Usiziache zikaondoka machoni pako; uzitunze katika moyo wako.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Maana maneno yangu ni uzima kwa wenye kuyapata na afya katika mwili wao.
23 Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Ulinde salama moyo wako na uukinge kwa bidii zote; kwa kuwa katika moyo hububujika chemichemi za uzima.
24 Put away from you a perverse mouth, and perverse lips put far from you.
Jiepushe na kauli za udanganyifu na ujiepushe na mazungumzo ya ufisadi.
25 Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you.
Macho yako yatazame mbele kwa unyoofu na kwa uthabiti tazama mbele sawasawa.
26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.
Usawazishe pito la mguu wako; na njia zako zote zitakuwa salama.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.
Usigeuke upande wa kulia au kushoto; ondoa mguu wako mbali na uovu.
