1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend,
If thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
Mwanangu, kama umekuwa mdhamini wa rafiki yako, Ikiwa wewe na mgeni mmepana mikono,
2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth,
Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
Basi umetegwa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako, Umekamatwa kwa maneno ya kinywa chako,
3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself,
When thou art come into the hand of thy friend;
Go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
Sasa, mwanangu, fanya hivi ukajiokoe, Kwa kuwa umejitia mkononi mwa jirani yako; Nenda ukanyenyekee, na kumsihi jirani yako.
4 Give not sleep to thine eyes,
Nor slumber to thine eyelids.
Usiache macho yako kupata usingizi, Wala kope za macho yako kusinzia.
5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter ,
And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
Ujiponye kama paa na mkono wa mwindaji, Na kama ndege katika mkono wa mtega mitego.
6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard;
Consider her ways, and be wise:
Ewe mvivu, mwendee chungu, Zitafakari njia zake ukapate hekima.
7 Which having no guide,
Overseer, or ruler,
Kwa maana yeye hana akida, Wala msimamizi, wala mkuu,
8 Provideth her meat in the summer,
And gathereth her food in the harvest.
Lakini hujiwekea akiba ya chakula wakati wa jua; Hukusanya chakula chake wakati wa mavuno.
9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard?
When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
Ewe mvivu, utalala hata lini? Utaondoka lini katika usingizi wako?
10 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!
11 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.
12 A naughty person, a wicked man,
Walketh with a froward mouth.
Mtu asiyefaa kitu, mtu wa uovu; Huenda njiani mwenye kinywa cha upotofu.
13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet,
He teacheth with his fingers;
Hukonyeza kwa macho, hunena kwa miguu, Huwaashiria watu kwa vidole vyake.
14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually;
He soweth discord.
Mna upotofu moyoni mwake, hutunga uovu daima, Hupanda mbegu za magomvi.
15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly;
Suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
Basi msiba utampata kwa ghafula; Ghafula atavunjika, bila njia ya kupona.
16 These six things doth the LORD hate:
Yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
Kuna vitu sita anavyovichukia Bwana; Naam, viko saba vilivyo chukizo kwake.
17 A proud look, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
Macho ya kiburi, ulimi wa uongo, Na mikono imwagayo damu isiyo na hatia;
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
Feet that be swift in running to mischief,
Moyo uwazao mawazo mabaya; Miguu iliyo myepesi kukimbilia maovu;
19 A false witness that speaketh lies,
And he that soweth discord among brethren.
Shahidi wa uongo asemaye uongo; Naye apandaye mbegu za fitina kati ya ndugu.
20 My son, keep thy father's commandment,
And forsake not the law of thy mother:
Mwanangu, shika maagizo ya baba yako, Wala usiiache sheria ya mama yako.
21 Bind them continually upon thine heart,
And tie them about thy neck.
Yafunge hayo katika moyo wako daima; Jivike hayo shingoni mwako.
22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee;
When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee;
And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
Uendapo yatakuongoza, ulalapo yatakulinda, Na uamkapo yatazungumza nawe.
23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;
And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Maana maagizo hayo ni taa, na sheria hiyo ni nuru, Na maonyo ya kumwadilisha mtu ni njia ya uzima.
24 To keep thee from the evil woman,
From the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
Yakulinde na mwanamke mwovu, asikupate, Na kukuponya na ubembelezi wa mgeni.
25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart;
Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
Usiutamani uzuri wake moyoni mwako; Wala usikubali akunase kwa kope za macho yake.
26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread:
And the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
Maana kwa malaya mtu hutiwa katika hali ya kuhitaji kipande cha mkate; Na kahaba humwinda mtu anase nafsi yake iliyo ya thamani
27 Can a man take fire in his bosom,
And his clothes not be burned?
Je! Mtu aweza kuua moto kifuani pake, Na nguo zake zisiteketezwe?
28 Can one go upon hot coals,
And his feet not be burned?
Je! Mtu aweza kukanyaga makaa ya moto, Na nyayo zake zisiungue?
29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife;
Whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
Ndivyo alivyo aingiaye kwa mke wa jirani yake; Kila mtu amgusaye huyo atakuwa na hatia.
30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal
To satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
Watu hawamdharau mwivi, Akiiba ili kujishibisha, iwapo aona njaa;
31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold;
He shall give all the substance of his house.
Lakini akipatikana, atalipa mara saba; Atatoa mali yote ya nyumba yake.
32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding:
He that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
Mtu aziniye na mwanamke hana akili kabisa; Afanya jambo litakalomwangamiza nafsi yake.
33 A wound and dishonour shall he get;
And his reproach shall not be wiped away.
Atapata jeraha na kuvunjiwa heshima; Wala fedheha yake haitafutika.
34 For jealousy is the rage of a man:
Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
Maana wivu ni ghadhabu ya mtu; Wala hatahurumia siku ya kujilipiza kisasi.
35 He will not regard any ransom;
Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
Hatakubali ukombozi uwao wote; Wala hatakuwa radhi, ujapomlipa vitu vingi.
