Proverbs 23
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;
Uketipo kula chakula na mtawala, angalia vyema kile kilicho mbele yako,
2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.
na utie kisu kooni mwako kama ukiwa mlafi.
3 Don’t be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food.
Usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu kwa kuwa chakula hicho ni cha hila.
4 Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Usijitaabishe ili kuupata utajiri, uwe na hekima kuonyesha kujizuia.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Kufumba na kufumbua utajiri hutoweka, huwa kama umepata mabawa ghafula, ukaruka na kutoweka angani kama tai.
6 Don’t eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don’t crave his delicacies,
Usile chakula cha mtu mchoyo, usitamani vyakula vyake vitamu,
7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
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 the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
Utatapika kile kidogo ulichokula, nawe utakuwa umepoteza bure maneno yako ya kumsifu.
9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Usizungumze na mpumbavu, kwa maana atadhihaki hekima ya maneno yako.
10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani wala kunyemelea kwenye mashamba ya yatima,
11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
kwa kuwa Mtetezi wao ni mwenye nguvu, atalichukua shauri lao dhidi yako.
12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.
Elekeza moyo wako kwenye mafundisho na masikio yako kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
13 Don’t withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Usimnyime mtoto adhabu, ukimwadhibu kwa fimbo, hatakufa.
Mwadhibu kwa fimbo na kuiokoa nafsi yake kutoka mautini. (Sheol h7585)
15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine.
Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una hekima, basi moyo wangu utafurahi,
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
utu wangu wa ndani utafurahi, wakati midomo yako itakapozungumza lililo sawa.
17 Don’t let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear the LORD all day long.
Usiuruhusu moyo wako kuwaonea wivu wenye dhambi, bali kila mara uwe na bidii katika kumcha Bwana.
18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off.
Hakika kuna tumaini la baadaye kwa ajili yako, nalo tarajio lako halitakatiliwa mbali.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!
Sikiliza, mwanangu na uwe na hekima, weka moyo wako kwenye njia iliyo sawa.
20 Don’t be amongst ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat;
Usiwe miongoni mwa wanywao mvinyo, au wale walao nyama kwa pupa,
21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags.
kwa maana walevi na walafi huwa maskini, nako kusinzia huwavika matambara.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
Msikilize baba yako, aliyekuzaa, wala usimdharau mama yako atakapokuwa mzee.
23 Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Nunua kweli wala usiiuze, pata hekima, adabu na ufahamu.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Baba wa mwenye haki ana furaha kubwa, naye aliye na mwana mwenye hekima humfurahia.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
Baba yako na mama yako na wafurahi, mama aliyekuzaa na ashangilie!
26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.
Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako, macho yako na yafuate njia zangu,
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well.
kwa maana kahaba ni shimo refu na mwanamke mpotovu ni kisima chembamba.
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful amongst men.
Kama mnyangʼanyi, hungojea akivizia, naye huzidisha wasio waaminifu miongoni mwa wanaume.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
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 stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine.
Ni hao wakaao sana kwenye mvinyo, hao waendao kuonja mabakuli ya mvinyo uliochanganywa.
31 Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.
Usiukodolee macho mvinyo wakati ukiwa mwekundu, wakati unapometameta kwenye bilauri, wakati ushukapo taratibu!
32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper.
Mwishowe huuma kama nyoka na kutia sumu yake kama nyoka mwenye sumu.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things.
Macho yako yataona mambo mageni na moyo wako kuwazia mambo yaliyopotoka.
34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
Utakuwa kama alalaye katikati ya bahari, alalaye juu ya kamba ya merikebu.
35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don’t feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.”
Utasema, “Wamenipiga lakini sikuumia! Wamenichapa, lakini sisikii! Nitaamka lini ili nikanywe tena?”
