Proverbs 9

1 Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.

1 Hekima amejenga nyumba yake; amechonga nguzo zake saba.

2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

2 Ameandaa nyama na kuchanganya divai yake; pia ameandaa meza yake.

3 She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city.

3 Amewatuma watumishi wake wa kike, naye huita kutoka mahali pa juu sana pa mji.

4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

4 Anawaambia wale wasio na akili, “Wote ambao ni wajinga na waje hapa!

5 “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.

5 Njooni, mle chakula changu na mnywe divai niliyoichanganya.

6 Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”

6 Acheni njia zenu za ujinga nanyi mtaishi; tembeeni katika njia ya ufahamu.

7 He who corrects a mocker brings shame on himself; he who rebukes a wicked man taints himself.

7 “Yeyote anayemkosoa mwenye mzaha hukaribisha matukano; yeyote anayekemea mtu mwovu hupatwa na matusi.

8 Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

8 Usimkemee mwenye mzaha la sivyo atakuchukia; mkemee mwenye hekima naye atakupenda.

9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

9 Mfundishe mtu mwenye hekima naye atakuwa na hekima zaidi; mfundishe mtu mwadilifu naye atazidi kufundishika.

10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

10 “Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha hekima, na kumjua Aliye Mtakatifu ni ufahamu.

11 For through wisdom your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life.

11 Kwa maana kwa msaada wangu siku zako zitakuwa nyingi, na miaka itaongezwa katika maisha yako.

12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.

12 Kama wewe una hekima, hekima yako itakupa tuzo; kama wewe ni mtu wa mzaha, wewe mwenyewe ndiwe utateseka.”

13 The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing.

13 Mwanamke aitwaye Mpumbavu ana kelele; hana adabu na hana maarifa.

14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city,

14 Huketi kwenye mlango wa nyumba yake, juu ya kiti katika mahali pa juu sana pa mji,

15 calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight.

15 akiita wale wapitao karibu, waendao moja kwa moja kwenye njia yao.

16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment.

16 Anawaambia wale wasio na akili, “Wote ambao ni wajinga na waje hapa ndani!”

17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”

17 “Maji yaliyoibiwa ni matamu; chakula kinacholiwa sirini ni kitamu!”

18 But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

18 Lakini hawajui hata kidogo kuwa wafu wako humo, kwamba wageni wake huyo mwanamke wako katika vilindi vya kuzimu.