Proverbs 1

1 These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel,

1 Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:

2 for gaining wisdom and discipline, for comprehending words of insight,

2 Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu; kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;

3 and for receiving instruction in wise living and in righteousness, justice, and equity.

3 kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara, kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;

4 To impart prudence to the simple and knowledge and discretion to the young,

4 huwapa busara wajinga, maarifa na akili kwa vijana;

5 let the wise listen and gain instruction, and the discerning acquire wise counsel

5 wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao, wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;

6 by understanding the proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

6 kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano, misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

7 Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa, lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.

8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother.

8 Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako, wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.

9 For they are a garland of grace on your head and a pendant around your neck.

9 Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako, na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.

10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them.

10 Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi, usikubaliane nao.

11 If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause,

11 Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane; tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu, njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;

12 let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

12 tuwameze wakiwa hai kama kaburi, wakiwa wazima kama wale wanaotumbukia shimoni.

13 We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder.

13 Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.

14 Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”—

14 Njoo ushirikiane nasi, vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”

15 my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.

15 Mwanangu, usiandamane nao. Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,

16 For their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed blood.

16 kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi, ni wepesi kumwaga damu.

17 How futile it is to spread the net where any bird can see it!

17 Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu wakati ndege wote wanakuona!

18 But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.

18 Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe; hujivizia tu wenyewe!

19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy, whose unjust gain takes the lives of its possessors.

19 Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila; huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.

20 Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square;

20 Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani, hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;

21 in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech:

21 kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti, kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:

22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?

22 “Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini? Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha, na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?

23 If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you.

23 Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu, ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.

24 Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand,

24 Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali niliponyoosha mkono wangu,

25 because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction,

25 kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote na hamkukubali karipio langu,

26 in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you,

26 mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu, nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:

27 when your dread comes like a storm, and your destruction like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you.

27 wakati janga litawapata kama tufani, wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli, wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.

28 Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; they will earnestly seek me, but will not find me.

28 “Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu; watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.

29 For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the LORD.

29 Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa, wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,

30 They accepted none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.

30 kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu, na kukataa maonyo yangu,

31 So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

31 watakula matunda ya njia zao, na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.

32 For the waywardness of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

32 Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua, nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.

33 But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety, secure from the fear of evil.”

33 Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama, atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”