Proverbs 24

1 Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;

1 Usiwaonee wivu watu waovu, usitamani ushirika nao;

2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.

2 kwa maana mioyo yao hupanga mambo ya jeuri, nayo midomo yao husema juu ya kuleta madhara.

3 By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;

3 Kwa hekima nyumba hujengwa, nayo kwa njia ya ufahamu huimarishwa

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.

4 kwa njia ya maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa vitu vya thamani na vya kupendeza.

5 A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.

5 Mtu mwenye hekima ana uwezo mkubwa, naye mtu mwenye maarifa huongeza nguvu,

6 Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.

6 kwa kufanya vita unahitaji uongozi na kwa ushindi washauri wengi.

7 Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.

7 Hekima i juu mno kwa mpumbavu, katika kusanyiko langoni hana lolote la kusema.

8 He who plots evil will be called a schemer.

8 Yeye apangaye mabaya atajulikana kama mtu wa hila.

9 A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.

9 Mipango ya upumbavu ni dhambi, watu huchukizwa na mwenye dhihaka.

10 If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!

10 Ukikata tamaa wakati wa taabu, jinsi gani nguvu zako ni kidogo!

11 Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.

11 Okoa wale wanaoongozwa kwenye kifo; wazuie wote wanaojikokota kuelekea machinjoni.

12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

12 Kama mkisema, “Lakini hatukujua lolote kuhusu hili,” je, yule apimaye mioyo halitambui hili? Je, yule awalindaye maisha yenu halijui hili? Je, hatamlipa kila mtu kulingana na aliyotenda?

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

13 Ule asali mwanangu, kwa kuwa ni nzuri; asali kutoka kwenye sega ni tamu kwa kuonja.

14 Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

14 Ujue pia kwamba hekima ni tamu kwa nafsi yako, kama ukiipata, kuna matumaini kwako ya siku zijazo, nalo tumaini lako halitakatiliwa mbali.

15 Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place.

15 Usivizie kama haramia afanyavyo ili kuyashambulia makao ya mwenye haki, wala usiyavamie makazi yake,

16 For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.

16 Kwa maana ingawa mtu mwenye haki huanguka mara saba, huinuka tena, lakini waovu huangushwa chini na maafa.

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

17 Usitazame kwa kufurahia adui yako aangukapo; wakati ajikwaapo, usiruhusu moyo wako ushangilie.

18 or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.

18 Bwana asije akaona na kuchukia akaiondoa ghadhabu yake mbali naye.

19 Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.

19 Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watu wabaya wala usiwaonee wivu waovu,

20 For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

20 kwa maana mtu mbaya hana tumaini la siku zijazo, nayo taa ya waovu itazimwa.

21 My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.

21 Mwanangu, mche Bwana na mfalme, wala usijiunge na waasi,

22 For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?

22 kwa maana hao wawili watatuma maangamizi ya ghafula juu yao, naye ni nani ajuaye maafa wawezayo kuleta?

23 These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.

23 Hii pia ni misemo ya wenye hekima: Kuonyesha upendeleo katika hukumu si vyema:

24 Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;

24 Yeyote amwambiaye mwenye hatia, “Wewe huna hatia,” Kabila zitamlaani na mataifa yatamkana.

25 but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.

25 Bali itakuwa vyema kwa wale watakaowatia hatiani wenye hatia, nazo baraka tele zitawajilia juu yao.

26 An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.

26 Jawabu la uaminifu ni kama busu la midomoni.

27 Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.

27 Maliza kazi zako za nje, nawe uweke mashamba yako tayari, baada ya hayo, jenga nyumba yako.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.

28 Usishuhudie dhidi ya jirani yako bila sababu, au kutumia midomo yako kudanganya.

29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”

29 Usiseme, “Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; nitamlipiza mtu yule kwa kile alichonitendea.”

30 I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.

30 Nilipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, karibu na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili,

31 Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.

31 miiba ilikuwa imeota kila mahali, ardhi ilikuwa imefunikwa na magugu, na ukuta wa mawe ulikuwa umebomoka.

32 I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:

32 Nikatafakari moyoni mwangu lile nililoliona, nami nikajifunza somo kutokana na niliyoyaona:

33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

33 Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, bado kukunja mikono kidogo upate kupumzika:

34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

34 hivyo umaskini utakuja juu yako kama mnyangʼanyi, na kupungukiwa kutakujia kama mtu mwenye silaha.