Wisdom and Folly
1 Doth not wisdom cry?
And understanding put forth her voice?
Je! Hekima halii? Ufahamu hatoi sauti yake?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way
In the places of the paths.
Juu ya mahali palipoinuka karibu na njia, Penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the coming in at the doors.
Karibu na malango, mahali pa kuingia mjini, Mahali pa kuyaingilia malango anapiga kelele.
4 Unto you, O men, I call;
And my voice is to the sons of man.
Enyi watu, nawaita ninyi; Na sauti yangu ni kwa wanadamu.
5 O ye simple, understand wisdom:
And, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Enyi wajinga, fahamuni werevu, Nanyi wapumbavu, mpate moyo wa kufahamu.
6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things;
And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Sikieni, maana nitasema yaliyo mazuri, Na kufumbua midomo yangu kutakuwa maadili.
7 For my mouth shall speak truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Maana kinywa changu kitasema kweli, Na uovu ni chukizo kwa midomo yangu.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing froward or perverse in them.
Maneno yote ya kinywa changu yana haki; Hapana hata neno lililopotoka au la ukaidi.
9 They are all plain to him that understandeth,
And right to them that find knowledge.
Yote humwelea yule afahamuye, Yote huelekea mbele yao waliopata maarifa.
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver;
And knowledge rather than choice gold.
Pokea mafundisho yangu, wala si fedha, Na maarifa kuliko dhahabu safi.
11 For wisdom is better than rubies;
And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
Maana hekima ni bora kuliko marijani; Wala vyote vinavyotamanika havilingani nayo.
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Mimi, hekima, nimefanya werevu kuwa kao langu; Natafuta maarifa na busara.
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil:
Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way,
And the froward mouth, do I hate.
Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; Kiburi na majivuno, na njia mbovu, Na kinywa cha ukaidi pia nakichukia.
14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom:
I am understanding; I have strength.
Shauri ni langu, na maarifa yaliyo sahihi; Mimi ni ufahamu, mimi nina nguvu.
15 By me kings reign,
And princes decree justice.
Kwa msaada wangu wafalme humiliki, Na wakuu wanahukumu haki.
16 By me princes rule,
And nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
Kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, Na waungwana, naam, waamuzi wote wa dunia.
17 I love them that love me;
And those that seek me early shall find me.
Nawapenda wale wanipendao, Na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
18 Riches and honour are with me;
Yea , durable riches and righteousness.
Utajiri na heshima ziko kwangu, Naam, utajiri udumuo, na haki pia.
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold;
And my revenue than choice silver.
Matunda yangu hupita dhahabu, naam, dhahabu safi, Na faida yangu hupita fedha iliyo teule.
20 I lead in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of judgment:
Natembea katika njia ya haki, Katikati ya mapito ya hukumu.
21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance;
And I will fill their treasures.
Niwarithishe mali wale wanipendao, Tena nipate kuzijaza hazina zao.
22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way,
Before his works of old.
Bwana alikuwa nami katika mwanzo wa njia yake, Kabla ya matendo yake ya kale.
23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning,
Or ever the earth was.
Nalitukuka tokea milele, tangu awali, Kabla haijawako dunia.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth;
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
Wakati visipokuwako vilindi nalizaliwa, Wakati zisipokuwako chemchemi zilizojaa maji.
25 Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills was I brought forth:
Kabla milima haijawekwa imara, Kabla ya vilima nalizaliwa.
26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields,
Nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
Alipokuwa hajaiumba dunia, wala makonde Wala chanzo cha mavumbi ya dunia;
27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there:
When he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
Alipozithibitisha mbingu nalikuwako; Alipopiga duara katika uso wa bahari;
28 When he established the clouds above:
When he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
Alipofanya imara mawingu yaliyo juu; Chemchemi za bahari zilipopata nguvu;
29 When he gave to the sea his decree,
That the waters should not pass his commandment:
When he appointed the foundations of the earth:
Alipoipa bahari mpaka wake, Kwamba maji yake yasiasi amri yake; Alipoiagiza misingi ya nchi;
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him:
And I was daily his delight,
Rejoicing always before him;
Ndipo nilipokuwa pamoja naye, kama stadi wa kazi; Nikawa furaha yake kila siku; Nikifurahi daima mbele zake;
31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth;
And my delights were with the sons of men.
Nikiifurahia dunia inayokaliwa na watu; Na furaha yangu ilikuwa pamoja na wanadamu.
32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children:
For blessed are they that keep my ways.
Basi, wanangu, nisikilizeni sasa; Maana heri hao wazishikao amri zangu.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise,
And refuse it not.
Sikieni mafundisho, mpate hekima, Wala msiikatae.
34 Blessed is the man that heareth me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
Ana heri mtu yule anisikilizaye, Akisubiri sikuzote malangoni pangu, Akingoja penye vizingiti vya milango yangu.
35 For whoso findeth me findeth life,
And shall obtain favour of the LORD.
Maana yeye anionaye mimi aona uzima, Naye atapata kibali kwa Bwana.
36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul:
All they that hate me love death.
Bali anikosaye hujidhuru nafsi yake mwenyewe, Na wao wanichukiao hupenda mauti.
