Proverbs 4

1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.

1 Sikilizeni wanangu, mafundisho ya baba yenu; sikilizeni kwa makini na mpate ufahamu.

2 For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.

2 Ninawapa mafundisho ya maana, kwa hiyo msiyaache mafundisho yangu.

3 When I was a son to my father, tender and the only child of my mother,

3 Nilipokuwa mvulana mdogo katika nyumba ya baba yangu, ningali mchanga na mtoto pekee kwa mama yangu,

4 he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.

4 baba alinifundisha akisema, “Yashike maneno yangu yote kwa moyo wako wote; yashike maagizo yangu na wewe utaishi.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn from them.

5 Pata hekima, pata ufahamu; usiyasahau maneno yangu wala usiyaache.

6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.

6 Usimwache hekima naye atakuweka salama; mpende, naye atakulinda.

7 Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

7 Hekima ni bora kuliko vitu vyote; kwa hiyo jipe hekima. Hata ikikugharimu vyote ulivyo navyo, pata ufahamu.

8 Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.

8 Mstahi, naye atakukweza; mkumbatie, naye atakuheshimu.

9 She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”

9 Atakuvika shada la neema kichwani mwako na kukupa taji ya utukufu.”

10 Listen, my son, and receive my words, and the years of your life will be many.

10 Sikiliza mwanangu, kubali ninachokuambia, nayo miaka ya maisha yako itakuwa mingi.

11 I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.

11 Ninakuongoza katika njia ya hekima na kukuongoza katika mapito yaliyonyooka.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.

12 Utembeapo, hatua zako hazitazuiliwa; ukimbiapo, hutajikwaa.

13 Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.

13 Mkamate sana elimu, usimwache aende zake; mshike, maana yeye ni uzima wako.

14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.

14 Usiuweke mguu wako katika njia ya waovu wala usitembee katika njia ya watu wabaya.

15 Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn from it and pass on by.

15 Epukana nayo, usisafiri katika njia hiyo; achana nayo, na uelekee njia yako.

16 For they cannot sleep unless they do evil; they are deprived of slumber until they make someone fall.

16 Kwa kuwa hawawezi kulala mpaka watende uovu; wanashindwa hata kusinzia mpaka wamwangushe mtu.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

17 Wanakula mkate wa uovu, na kunywa mvinyo wa jeuri.

18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until midday.

18 Njia ya wenye haki ni kama nuru ya kwanza ya mapambazuko, ambayo hungʼaa zaidi na zaidi mpaka mchana mkamilifu.

19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom; they do not know what makes them stumble.

19 Lakini njia ya waovu ni kama giza nene; hawajui kinachowafanya wajikwae.

20 My son, pay attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings.

20 Mwanangu, yasikilize kwa makini yale ninayokuambia; sikiliza kwa makini maneno yangu.

21 Do not lose sight of them; keep them within your heart.

21 Usiruhusu yaondoke machoni pako, yahifadhi ndani ya moyo wako;

22 For they are life to those who find them, and health to the whole body.

22 kwa sababu ni uzima kwa wale wanaoyapata na afya kwa mwili wote wa mwanadamu.

23 Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

23 Zaidi ya yote, linda moyo wako, kuliko yote uyalindayo, maana ndiko zitokako chemchemi za uzima.

24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.

24 Epusha kinywa chako na ukaidi; weka mazungumzo machafu mbali na midomo yako.

25 Let your eyes look forward; fix your gaze straight ahead.

25 Macho yako na yatazame mbele, kaza macho yako moja kwa moja mbele yako.

26 Make a level path for your feet, and all your ways will be sure.

26 Sawazisha mapito ya miguu yako na njia zako zote ziwe zimethibitika.

27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your feet away from evil.

27 Usigeuke kulia wala kushoto; epusha mguu wako na ubaya.