Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
A wise [man] will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: [but] fools despise wisdom and instruction.
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
For they [shall be] an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
11 Kama watasema, “haya tufuatae, tuvizie ili kufanya mauaji, tujifiche ili tuwashambulie watu wasio na hatia, pasipo sababu.
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
12 Haya tuwameza wakiwa hai, kama kuzimu inavyowachukua wenye afya, na kuwa kama wale waangukao kwenye shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit: (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
And they lay wait for their [own] blood; they lurk privily for their [own] lives.
19 Ndivyo zilivyo njia za kila ambaye hupata utajiri kwa udhalimu; mapato ya udhalimu huondoa uhai wa wenye utajiri.
So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; [which] taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, [saying],
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
27 hofu ya kutisha itawapata kama tufani na maafa yatawakumba kama upepo wa kisulisuli, taabu na uchungu vitawapata.
When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
