Proverbs 23

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,

1 Uketipo kula chakula na mtawala, angalia vyema kile kilicho mbele yako,

2 and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.

2 na utie kisu kooni mwako kama ukiwa mlafi.

3 Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

3 Usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu kwa kuwa chakula hicho ni cha hila.

4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.

4 Usijitaabishe ili kuupata utajiri, uwe na hekima kuonyesha kujizuia.

5 When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

5 Kufumba na kufumbua utajiri hutoweka, huwa kama umepata mabawa ghafula, ukaruka na kutoweka angani kama tai.

6 Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;

6 Usile chakula cha mtu mchoyo, usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu,

7 for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

7 kwa maana yeye ni aina ya mtu ambaye kila mara anafikiri juu ya gharama. Anakuambia, “Kula na kunywa,” lakini moyo wake hauko pamoja nawe.

8 You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.

8 Utatapika kile kidogo ulichokula, nawe utakuwa umepoteza bure maneno yako ya kumsifu.

9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

9 Usizungumze na mpumbavu, kwa maana atadhihaki hekima ya maneno yako.

10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

10 Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani wala kunyemelea kwenye mashamba ya yatima,

11 for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.

11 kwa kuwa Mtetezi wao ni mwenye nguvu, atalichukua shauri lao dhidi yako.

12 Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.

12 Elekeza moyo wako kwenye mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

13 Usimnyime mtoto adhabu, ukimwadhibu kwa fimbo, hatakufa.

14 Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.

14 Mwadhibu kwa fimbo na kuiokoa nafsi yake kutoka mautini.

15 My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.

15 Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una hekima, basi moyo wangu utafurahi,

16 My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.

16 utu wangu wa ndani utafurahi, wakati midomo yako itakapozungumza lililo sawa.

17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.

17 Usiuruhusu moyo wako kuwaonea wivu wenye dhambi, bali kila mara uwe na bidii katika kumcha Bwana.

18 For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

18 Hakika kuna tumaini la baadaye kwa ajili yako, nalo tarajio lako halitakatiliwa mbali.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.

19 Sikiliza, mwanangu na uwe na hekima, weka moyo wako kwenye njia iliyo sawa.

20 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.

20 Usiwe miongoni mwa wanywao mvinyo, au wale walao nyama kwa pupa,

21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.

21 kwa maana walevi na walafi huwa maskini, nako kusinzia huwavika matambara.

22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

22 Msikilize baba yako, aliyekuzaa, wala usimdharau mama yako atakapokuwa mzee.

23 Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.

23 Nunua kweli wala usiiuze, pata hekima, adabu na ufahamu.

24 The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.

24 Baba wa mwenye haki ana furaha kubwa, naye aliye na mwana mwenye hekima humfurahia.

25 May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

25 Baba yako na mama yako na wafurahi, mama aliyekuzaa na ashangilie!

26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.

26 Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako, macho yako na yafuate njia zangu,

27 For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.

27 kwa maana kahaba ni shimo refu na mwanamke mpotovu ni kisima chembamba.

28 Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.

28 Kama mnyangʼanyi, hungojea akivizia, naye huzidisha wasio waaminifu miongoni mwa wanaume.

29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?

29 Ni nani mwenye ole? Ni nani mwenye huzuni? Ni nani mwenye ugomvi? Ni nani mwenye malalamiko? Ni nani aliye na majeraha yasiyo na sababu? Ni nani mwenye macho mekundu?

30 Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.

30 Ni hao wakaao sana kwenye mvinyo, hao waendao kuonja mabakuli ya mvinyo uliochanganywa.

31 Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.

31 Usiukodolee macho mvinyo wakati ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unapometameta kwenye bilauri, wakati ushukapo taratibu!

32 In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.

32 Mwishowe huuma kama nyoka na kutia sumu yake kama nyoka mwenye sumu.

33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.

33 Macho yako yataona mambo mageni na moyo wako kuwazia mambo yaliyopotoka.

34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:

34 Utakuwa kama alalaye katikati ya bahari, alalaye juu ya kamba ya merikebu.

35 “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”

35 Utasema, “Wamenipiga lakini sikuumia! Wamenichapa, lakini sisikii! Nitaamka lini ili nikanywe tena?”