Mithali 8
1 Je hekima haiti? Je ufahamu hapazi sauti yake?
Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?
2 Juu ya kilima kando ya barabara, kwenye njia panda, hekima anasimama.
In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;
3 Kando ya njia ya kuingilia mjini, karibu na milango ya mji, anaita kwa sauti.
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
4 Watu, ninawaita ninyi na ninapaza sauti yangu kwa wana wa wanadamu.
'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.
5 Ninyi wajinga, jifunzeni hekima, na ninyi mnaochukia maarifa, lazima mjipatieni moyo wa ufahamu.
O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
6 Sikiliza na mimi nitasema mambo mazuri na nifumbuapo midomo yangu nitaongea haki.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7 Maana kinywa changu hunena uaminifu na midomo yangu huchukia uovu.
For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 Maneno ya kinywa changu yote ni haki; hakuna kilichogeuzwa wala kupotoshwa.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.
9 Maneno yangu yote yamenyooka kwa yule mwenye kuelewa; maneno yangu ni haki kwa wale wanaotafuta maarifa.
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10 Chagua fundisho langu badala ya fedha na maarifa kuliko dhahabu safi.
Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11 Maana mimi, hekima ni bora kuliko vito; hakuna unachokitamani kinaweza kulinganishwa na mimi.
For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.
12 Mimi, hekima, naishi kwa utaratibu, na ninamiliki maarifa na busara.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.
13 Hofu ya Mungu ni kuchukia uovu- nachukia majivuno na kiburi, njia ya uovu, na kauli iliyopotoka- hivyo ninavichukia.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14 Ninaushauri mzuri na hekima sahihi; mimi ni busara; nguvu zipo kwangu.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.
15 Kwa njia yangu wafalme hutawala- pia na waungwana, na wote ambao hutawala kwa haki.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
16 Kwa njia yangu wafalme hutawala na waungwana na wote wanaotawala kwa haki.
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17 Nawapenda wale wanaonipenda, na wale wanaonitafuta kwa bidii, wataniona.
I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.
18 Kwangu kunautajiri na heshima, utajiri wa kudumu na haki.
Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.
19 Tunda langu ni bora kuliko dhahabu, bora hata kuliko dhahabu safi.
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.
20 Ninazalisha kilicho bora kuliko fedha safi. Natembea katika njia ya haki,
I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;
21 katika mapito ambayo huelekea kwenye haki, ili niwape urithi wale wanaonipenda na kuzijaza hazina zao.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.
22 Yehova aliniumba tokea mwanzo- mwazoni mwa matendo yake ya nyakati za kale.
The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.
23 Tokea enzi za kale niliwekwa katika nafasi- tokea kwanza, tokea mwanzo wa dunia.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24 Kabla ya bahari, mimi nilizaliwa- kabla ya kuwepo chemchemi zenye maji tele.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25 Kabla ya milima na vilima kuwekwa, mimi nilizaliwa.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;
26 Nilizaliwa kabla ya Yehova hajaiumba dunia wala makonde, hata mavumbi ya kwanza katika dunia.
While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.
27 Nilikuwepo alipoziimarisha mbingu, wakati alipochora mstari katika sura ya kilindi.
When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,
28 Nilikuwepo alipoimarisha anga la juu na wakati wa kutengeneza kina cha chemchemi.
When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,
29 Nilikuwepo alipotengeneza mipaka ya bahari, ili maji yasisambae kuvuka pale alipoyaamuru, na wakati anaamuru misingi ya dunia sehemu ya kukaa.
When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;
30 Nilikuwa kando yake, kama fundistadi mkuu, na mimi nilikuwa furaha yake siku kwa siku, nikifurahi mbele zake daima.
Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,
31 Nilikuwa nikifurahi katika dunia yake yote na furaha yangu ilikuwa kwa wana wa wanadamu.
Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.
32 Na sasa, wanangu, nisikilizeni, maana wale wazishikao njia zangu watakuwa na furaha.
Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.
33 Sikilizeni fundisho langu na mpate hekima; wala msilipuuze.
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34 Anisikilizaye atakuwa na furaha- kila siku akitazama katika malango yangu, akinisubiri pembeni mwa milango ya masikani yangu.
Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35 Maana yeyote anionaye mimi, anapata uzima, naye atapata kibali kwa Yehova.
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
36 Na yeyote asiyeniona mimi, hujiumiza mwenyewe, wote wanaonichukia hupenda mauti.
But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'
