Proverbs 24
1 Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;
2 For their heart studieth oppression, and their lips talk of mischief.
kwa maana mioyo yao hupanga mambo ya jeuri, nayo midomo yao husema juu ya kuleta madhara.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa
4 And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth might.
Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,
6 For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war: and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.
8 He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.
9 The thought of the foolish is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!
11 Deliver them that are carried away unto death, and those that are ready to be slain see that thou hold back.
Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not this: doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his work?
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 thou honey, for it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.
14 So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul: if thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
Ujue pia kwamba hekima ni tamu kwa nafsi yako, kama ukiipata, kuna matumaini kwako ya siku zijazo, nalo tumaini lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,
16 For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he is overthrown:
Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; neither be thou envious at the wicked:
Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,
20 For there will be no reward to the evil man; the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: [and] meddle not with them that are given to change:
Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the destruction of them both?
kwa maana hao wawili watatuma maangamizi ya ghafula juu yao, naye ni nani ajuaye maafa wawezayo kuleta?
23 These also are [sayings] of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:
Yeyote amwambiaye mwenye hatia, “Wewe huna hatia,” Kabila zitamlaani na mataifa yatamkana.
25 But to them that rebuke [him] shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.
26 He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.
27 Prepare thy work without, and make it ready for thee in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”
30 I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Nilipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, karibu na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili,
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
miiba ilikuwa imeota kila mahali, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa na magugu, na ukuta wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
32 Then I beheld, and considered well: I saw, and received instruction.
Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:
33 [Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:
34 So shall thy poverty come as a robber; and thy want as an armed man.
hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.
