Mithali 1
1 Mithali za Sulemani mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli.
Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 Mithali hizi zinafundisha hekima na maarifa, kufundisha maneno ya busara,
For knowing wisdom and instruction, For understanding sayings of intelligence,
3 ili mpate maarifa kwa ajili ya kuishi kwa kutenda wema, haki na adili.
For receiving the instruction of wisdom, Righteousness, judgment, and uprightness,
4 Mithali hizi zinatoa hekima kwa wale ambao hawakufunzwa, na kuwapa vijana maarifa na hadhari.
For giving to simple ones — prudence, To a youth — knowledge and discretion.
5 Watu wenye busara wasikie na kuongeza elimu yao na watu wenye ufahamu wapate mwongozo,
(The wise doth hear and increaseth learning, And the intelligent doth obtain counsels.)
6 kwa kuelewa mithali, misemo, vitendawili na maneno ya wenye busara.
For understanding a proverb and its sweetness, Words of the wise and their acute sayings.
7 Hofu ya Yehova ni chanzo cha maarifa- wapumbavu hudharau hekima na nidhamu.
Fear of Jehovah [is] a beginning of knowledge, Wisdom and instruction fools have despised!
8 Mwanangu, sikia fundisho la baba yako na wala usiziache kanuni za mama yako;
Hear, my son, the instruction of thy father, And leave not the law of thy mother,
9 zitakuwa kilemba cha neema katika kichwa chako na jebu zinazoning'inia kwenye shingo yako.
For a graceful wreath [are] they to thy head, And chains to thy neck.
10 Mwanangu wenye dhambi wakikushawishi katika dhambi zao, kataa kuwafuata.
My son, if sinners entice thee be not willing.
11 Kama watasema, “haya tufuatae, tuvizie ili kufanya mauaji, tujifiche ili tuwashambulie watu wasio na hatia, pasipo sababu.
If they say, 'Come with us, we lay wait for blood, We watch secretly for the innocent without cause,
12 Haya tuwameza wakiwa hai, kama kuzimu inavyowachukua wenye afya, na kuwa kama wale waangukao kwenye shimoni. (Sheol h7585)
We swallow them as Sheol — alive, And whole — as those going down [to] the pit, (Sheol h7585)
13 Tutapata vitu vyote vya thamani; tutazijaza nyumba zetu vile tunavyoiba kwa wengine.
Every precious substance we find, We fill our houses [with] spoil,
14 Weka vitu vyako kwetu; tutakuwa na mfuko moja kwa pamoja.”
Thy lot thou dost cast among us, One purse is — to all of us.'
15 Mwanangu, usitembee katika njia moja pamoja nao; usiruhusu mguu wako kugusa katika mapito yao;
My son! go not in the way with them, Withhold thy foot from their path,
16 miguu ya hukimbilia mabaya na huharakisha kumwaga damu.
For their feet to evil do run, And they haste to shed blood.
17 Kwa kuwa haina maana kumtegea ndege mtego wakati ndege anaona.
Surely in vain is the net spread out before the eyes of any bird.
18 Watu hawa huvizia kujiua wenyewe—wanatega mtego kwa ajili yao wenyewe.
And they for their own blood lay wait, They watch secretly 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 paths of every gainer of dishonest gain, The life of its owners it taketh.
20 Hekima inalia kwa sauti mtaani, inapaza sauti katika viwanja;
Wisdom in an out-place crieth aloud, In broad places she giveth forth her voice,
21 katika mitaa inalia kwa sauti kuu, kwenye maingilio ya milango ya mji inasema “
At the head of the multitudes she calleth, In the openings of the gates, In the city her sayings she saith:
22 Mpaka lini enyi wajinga mtapenda kuwa wajinga? Mpaka lini enyi wenye dhihaka mtapenda dhihaka, na hadi lini enyi wapumbavu, mtachukia maarifa?
'Till when, ye simple, do ye love simplicity? And have scorners their scorning desired? And do fools hate knowledge?
23 Zingatia karipio langu; nitatoa mawazo yangu kwa ajili yenu; nitawafahamisha maneno yangu.
Turn back at my reproof, lo, I pour forth to you my spirit, I make known my words with you.
24 Nimeita, nanyi mkakataa kusikiliza; nimeunyosha mkono wangu, wala hakuna aliyezingatia.
Because I have called, and ye refuse, I stretched out my hand, and none is attending,
25 Lakini mumedharau mafundisho yangu yote na wala hamkuzingatia maelekezo yangu.
And ye slight all my counsel, And my reproof ye have not desired.
26 Nitacheka katika taabu yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati wa kupatwa taabu-
I also in your calamity do laugh, I deride 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 destruction, And your calamity as a hurricane doth come, When on you come adversity and distress.
28 Halafu wataniita, nami sitawajibu; wataniita katika hali ya kukata tamaa lakini hawataniona.
Then they call me, and I do not answer, They seek me earnestly, and find me not.
29 Kwa sababu wamechukia maarifa na hawakuchagua kuwa na hofu ya Yehova,
Because that they have hated knowledge, And the fear of Jehovah have not chosen.
30 hawakufuata mafundisho yangu na wakayadharau masahihisho yangu yote.
They have not consented to my counsel, They have despised all my reproof,
31 Watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa kwa matunda ya hila zao wenyewe.
And they eat of the fruit of their way, And from their own counsels they are filled.
32 kwa maana wajinga hufa wanaporudi nyuma, na kutojali kwa wapumbavu kutawaangamiza.
For the turning of the simple slayeth them, And the security of the foolish destroyeth them.
33 Bali kila anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama na atapumzika salama pasipo hofu ya maafa.
And whoso is hearkening to me dwelleth confidently, And [is] quiet from fear of evil!'
