Proverbs 1
1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:
2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding;
Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;
4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man—
huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;
5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel;
wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;
6 to understand a proverb and parables, the words and riddles of the wise.
kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.
7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge, but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.
8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction, and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching;
Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck.
Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.
10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t consent.
Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.
11 If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lie in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;
12 Let’s swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. (Sheol h7585)
tuwameze wakiwa hai kama kaburi, wakiwa wazima kama wale wanaotumbukia shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
13 We’ll find all valuable wealth. We’ll fill our houses with plunder.
Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.
14 You shall cast your lot among us. We’ll all have one purse”—
Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”
15 my son, don’t walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path,
Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,
16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.
17 For the net is spread in vain in the sight of any bird;
Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!
18 but these lay in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!
19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners.
Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares.
Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;
21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words:
kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge?
“Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?
23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.
Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.
24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention;
Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,
25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof;
kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,
26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you,
mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:
27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come on you.
wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.
28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me,
“Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.
29 because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh.
Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,
30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof.
kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,
31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.
watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.
32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them.
Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.”
Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”
