1 Be not thou envious against evil men,
Neither desire to be with them.
Usiwahusudu watu waovu, Wala usitamani kuwa pamoja nao;
2 For their heart studieth destruction,
And their lips talk of mischief.
Kwa maana moyo wao hufikiri dhuluma, Na midomo yao huongea madhara.
3 Through wisdom is an house builded;
And by understanding it is established:
Nyumba hujengwa kwa hekima, Na kwa ufahamu huthibitika,
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled
With all precious and pleasant riches.
Na kwa maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa Vitu vyote vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
5 A wise man is strong;
Yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
Mtu mwenye hekima ana nguvu; Naam, mtu wa maarifa huongeza uwezo;
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war:
And in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Maana kwa mashauri ya akili utafanya vita; Na kwa wingi wa washauri huja wokovu.
7 Wisdom is too high for a fool:
He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
Kwa mpumbavu hekima haipatikani; Hafumbui kinywa chake langoni.
8 He that deviseth to do evil
Shall be called a mischievous person.
Mtu afikiriye kutenda maovu, Watu watamwita mtundu;
9 The thought of foolishness is sin:
And the scorner is an abomination to men.
Fikira za mpumbavu ni dhambi, Na mwenye mzaha huwachukiza watu.
10 If thou faint in the day of adversity,
Thy strength is small.
Ukizimia siku ya taabu, Nguvu zako ni chache.
11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death,
And those that are ready to be slain;
Uwaokoe wanaochukuliwa ili wauawe; Nao walio tayari kuchinjwa uwaopoe.
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not;
Doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it?
And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it?
And shall not he render to every man according to his works?
Ukisema, Sisi hatukujua hayo; Je! Yeye aipimaye mioyo siye afahamuye? Naye ailindaye nafsi yako siye ajuaye? Je! Hatamlipa kila mtu sawasawa na kazi yake?
13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good;
And the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
Mwanangu, ule asali, kwa maana ni njema, Na sega la asali lililo tamu ulionjapo.
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul:
When thou hast found it , then there shall be a reward,
And thy expectation shall not be cut off.
Basi utaijua hekima kuwa tamu kwa nafsi yako; Ikiwa umekwisha kuiona; Ndipo itakapofuata thawabu; Wala tumaini lako halitabatilika.
15 Lay not wait, O wicked man , against the dwelling of the righteous;
Spoil not his resting place:
Ewe mtu mbaya, usiyavizie makao yake mwenye haki; Wala usipaharibu mahali pake pa kupumzika;
16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:
But the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Kwa maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba akaondoka tena; Bali wasio haki hukwazwa na mabaya.
17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth,
And let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
Usifurahi, adui yako aangukapo; Wala moyo wako usishangilie ajikwaapo;
18 Lest the LORD see it , and it displease him,
And he turn away his wrath from him.
Bwana asije akaliona hilo, likamkasirisha; Akageuzia mbali naye hasira yake.
19 Fret not thyself because of evil men ,
Neither be thou envious at the wicked;
Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya; Wala usiwahusudu wabaya;
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man ;
The candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Kwa maana mtu mbaya hapati thawabu; Taa ya mtu mbaya itazimika.
21 My son, fear thou the LORD and the king:
And meddle not with them that are given to change:
Mwanangu, mche Bwana, na mfalme; Wala usishirikiane na wenye kigeugeu;
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly;
And who knoweth the ruin of them both?
Maana msiba wao utatokea kwa ghafula; Tena ni nani aujuaye uharibifu wa miaka yao.
23 These things also belong to the wise.
It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
Haya nayo pia ni maneno ya wenye akili. Kupendelea watu katika hukumu si kwema.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous;
Him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
Amwambiaye mtu mwovu, Wewe una haki; Kabila za watu watamlaani, taifa watamchukia.
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight,
And a good blessing shall come upon them.
Bali kwao wakemeao furaha itakuwako; Na baraka ya kufanikiwa itawajilia.
26 Every man shall kiss his lips
That giveth a right answer.
Aibusu midomo atoaye jawabu la haki.
27 Prepare thy work without,
And make it fit for thyself in the field;
And afterwards build thine house.
Tengeneza kazi yako huko nje, Jifanyizie kazi yako tayari shambani, Ukiisha, jenga nyumba yako.
28 Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause;
And deceive not with thy lips.
Usimshuhudie jirani yako pasipo sababu, Wala usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me:
I will render to the man according to his work.
Usiseme, Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; Nitamlipa mtu huyo sawasawa na tendo lake.
30 I went by the field of the slothful,
And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
Nalipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, Na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili.
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns,
And nettles had covered the face thereof,
And the stone wall thereof was broken down.
Kumbe! Lote pia limemea miiba; Uso wake ulifunikwa kwa viwawi; Na ukuta wake wa mawe umebomoka.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well:
I looked upon it, and received instruction.
Ndipo nilipoangalia na kufikiri sana; Naliona, nikapata mafundisho.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber,
A little folding of the hands to sleep:
Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, Bado kukunja mikono upate usingizi!
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth;
And thy want as an armed man.
Hivyo, umaskini wako huja kama mnyang'anyi, Na uhitaji wako kama mtu mwenye silaha.
