Mithali 6
1 Mwanangu, kama utaweka pesa zako kuwa dhamana kwa mkopo wa jirani yako; kama ukitoa ahadi yako katika mkopo wa mtu usiyemjua,
My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbour, if thou hast stricken thy hands for a stranger,
2 basi umejiwekea mtego mwenyewe na umenaswa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako.
Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
3 Mwanagu, ukinaswa kwa maneno yako mwenyewe, fanya haya ili kujiokoa, kwa kuwa umeangukia kwenye mikono ya jirani yako; nenda unyenyekee na ufanye shauri mbele ya jirani yako.
Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbour; go, humble thyself, and importune thy neighbour.
4 Usiruhusu usingizi katika macho yako wala kope za macho yako kusinzia.
Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
5 Jiokoe mwenyewe kama swala kutoka katika mkono wa mwindaji, kama ndege kutoka katika mkono wa mwinda ndege.
Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand [of the hunter], and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
6 Wewe mtu mvivu, mwangalie mchwa, zitafakari njia zake ili kupata busara.
Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
7 Hana akida, afisa au mtawala,
Which having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
8 lakini huandaa chakula chake wakati wa joto na wakati wa mavuno huweka hazina ili kula baadaye.
Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
9 Ewe mtu mvivu, utalala hata lini? Wakati gani utainuka usingizini?”
How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
10 Lala kidogo, sizia kidogo, kunja mikono kupumzika kidogo” -
[Yet] a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
11 ndipo umasikini wako utakapokujia kama mporaji na uhitaji wako kama askari wa vita.
So shall thy poverty come as a robber, and thy want as an armed man.
12 Mtu asiyefaa-mtu mwovu- huishi kwa kauli za udanganyifu wake,
A worthless person, a man of iniquity; he walketh with a froward mouth;
13 akipepesa macho yake, akiashilia kwa miguu yake na kusonta kwa videle vyake.
He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he maketh signs with his fingers;
14 Hufanya njama za uovu kwa hila ya moyo wake; daima huchochea faraka.
Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth evil continually; he soweth discord.
15 Kwa hiyo msiba wake utamkumba kwa ghafula, punde atavunjika vibaya wala hatapona.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; on a sudden shall he be broken and that without remedy.
16 Kuna vitu sita ambavyo Yehova huvichukia, saba ambavyo ni chukizo kwake.
There be six things which the LORD hateth; yea, seven which are an abomination unto him:
17 Macho ya mtu mwenye kiburi, ulimi wa uongo, mikono inayomwaga damu ya watu maasumu,
Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood;
18 moyo unaobuni njama mbaya, miguu inayokimbilia maovu upesi,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief;
19 shahidi asemaye uongo na apandaye faraka kati ya ndugu.
A false witness that uttereth lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
20 Mwanangu, itii amri ya baba yako na wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.
My son, keep the commandment of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
21 Uyafunge katika moyo wako siku zote; yafunge kwenye shingo yako.
Bind them continually upon thine heart, tie them about thy neck.
22 utembeapo, yatakuongoza; ulalapo yatakulinda, na uamkapo yatakufundisha.
When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall watch over thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
23 Maana amri ni taa, na mafundisho ni nuru; kinga za kuadilisha za njia ya uzima.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
24 Yanakulinda dhidi ya mwanamke malaya, dhidi ya maneno laini ya uzinzi.
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the stranger’s tongue.
25 Moyoni mwako usiutamani uzuri wake wala usitekwe katika kope zake.
Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
26 Kulala na malaya inaweza kugharimu bei ya kipande cha mkate, lakini mke wa mtu mwingine inagharimu uzima wako wote.
For on account of a whorish woman [a man is brought] to a piece of bread: and the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.
27 Je mtu anaweza kubeba moto katika kifua chake bila kuuguza mavazi yake?
Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
28 Je mtu anaweza kutembea juu ya makaa bila kuchomwa miguu yake?
Or can one walk upon hot coals, and his feet not be scorched?
29 Ndivyo alivyo mtu alalaye na mke wa jirani yake; yule alalaye na huyo mke hatakosa adhabu.
So he that goeth in to his nieghbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished.
30 Watu hawawezi kumdharau mwizi kama anaiba ili kukidhi hitaji lake la njaa.
Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry:
31 Walakini akimatwa, atalipa mara saba ya kile alichoiba; lazima atoe kila kitu cha thamani katika nyumba yake.
But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
32 Mtu anayefanya uzinzi hana akili; hufanya hiyo kwa uharibifu wake mwenyewe.
He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: he doeth it that would destroy his own soul.
33 Anasitahili aibu na majeraha na fedheha yake haiwezi kuondolewa.
Wounds and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
34 Maana vivu humghadhibisha mtu; hatakuwa na huruma wakati wa kulipa kisasi chake.
For jealousy is the rage of a man; and he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
35 Ujapompa zawadi nyingi, hatakubali mbadala wa kusuruhishwa wala kulipwa.
He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
