Mithali 24
1 Usiwe na husuda kwa wenye ubaya, wala usitamani kuambatana nao,
Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them.
2 kwa sababu mioyo yao inapanga njama za vurugu na midomo ya huongea juu ya madhara.
For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa na kwa ufahamu huimarishwa.
Through wisdom is a house builded; and by understanding it is established;
4 Kwa maarifa vyumba hujazwa vitu vyote vya thamani na utajiri wa kupendeza.
And by knowledge are the chambers filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Shujaa wa hekima ni imara, na mtu wa maarifa huongeza nguvu zake;
A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 maana kwa uongozi wa busara unaweza kufanya vita na kwa washauri wengi kuna ushindi.
For with wise advice thou shalt make thy war; and in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
7 Hekima ipo juu sana kwa mpumbavu; hafumbui kinywa chake kwenye mlango.
Wisdom is as unattainable to a fool as corals; he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 Kuna yule mwenye kupanga kufanya mabaya- watu wanamwita bwana wa njama.
He that deviseth to do evil, men shall call him a mischievous person.
9 Mipango ya mpumbavu ni dhambi na watu humchukia mwenye dhihaka.
The thought of foolishness is sin; and the scorner is an abomination to men.
10 Kama utakuwa dhaifu na mwenye kuogopa siku ya taabu, basi nguvu zako ni haba.
If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small indeed.
11 Waokoe wanaochukuliwa kwenda kwenye mauti na uwashikilie wale wanaopepesuka kwenda kwa mchinjaji.
Deliver them that are drawn unto death; and those that are ready to be slain wilt thou forbear to rescue?
12 Kama utasema, “Tazama, hatujui chochote juu ya hili,” je yule anayepima mioyo hajui unachosema? Na yule anayelinda maisha yako, je hajui? Je Mungu hatampa kila mmoja kile anachostahili?
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 works?
13 Mwanangu, kula asali kwa kuwa ni nzuri, kwa sababu matone ya sega la asali ni matamu unapoonja.
My son, eat thou honey, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to thy taste;
14 Hekima ndiyo ilivyo katika nafsi yako - kama utaitafuta, tumaini lako halitabatilika na kutakuwa na tumaini.
So know thou wisdom to be unto thy soul; if thou hast found it, then shall there be a future, and thy hope shall not be cut off.
15 Usisubiri kwa kuvizia kama waovu ambao hushambulia nyumba ya mwenye haki. Usiiharibu nyumba yake!
Lie not in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous, spoil not his resting-place;
16 Maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba na kuinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa kwa maafa.
For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again, but the wicked stumble under adversity.
17 Usisherekee wakati adui yako anapoanguka na wala moyo wako usifurahi anapojikwaa,
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thy heart be glad when he stumbleth;
18 au Yehova ataona na kutoridhika na kuondoa ghadhabu juu yake.
Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him.
19 Usifadhaike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya, na wala usiwahusudu watu waovu,
Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
20 maana mtu mbaya hana matumaini na taa ya watu waovu itazimika.
For there will be no future to the evil man, the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21 Mwanangu; mche Yehova, na umwogope mfalme, usishirikiane na watu wenye kuasi dhidi yao,
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king, and meddle not with them that are given to change;
22 maana kwa ghafula msiba wao utakuja na ni nani ajuaye ukubwa wa uharibifu utakao kuja kutoka kwa hao wote?
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin from them both?
23 Haya ni maneno ya wenye busara pia. Upendeleo katika kuhukumu kesi kwa sheria si vizuri.
These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24 Anayemwambia mwenye hatia, “Wewe upo sawa,” atalaaniwa na watu na mataifa yatamchukia.
He that saith unto the wicked: 'Thou art righteous', peoples shall curse him, nations shall execrate him;
25 Bali wenye kuwakemea waovu watakuwa na furaha na zawadi za wema zitakuja kwao.
But to them that decide justly shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
26 Anayetoa jibu la kweli hutoa busu kwenye midomo.
He kisseth the lips that giveth a right answer.
27 Andaa kazi yako ya nje, na tayarisha kila kitu kwa ajili yako mwenyewe shambani; baada ya hapo, jenga nyumba yako.
Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thy house.
28 Usitoe ushahidi dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu na usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
29 Usiseme, “Mimi nitamtendea kile alichonitendea; nitalipiza kwa kile alichofanya.”
Say not: 'I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.'
30 Nilikwenda jirani na shamba la mtu mvivu, nikapita kwenye shamba la mzabibu la mtu asiye na akili.
I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
31 Miiba imeota kila sehemu, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa kwa upupu, na ukuta wake wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.
And, lo, it was all grown over with thistles, the face thereof was covered with nettles, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Kisha nikaliona na kufikiria juu yake; nikatazama na kupokea mafundisho.
Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction.
33 Kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, kupumzika kwa kukunja mikono kidogo-
'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep' —
34 na umasikini huja kwa kutembea juu yako, na mahitaji yako kama askari mwenye silaha.
So shall thy poverty come as a runner, and thy want as an armed man.
