Mithali 3

1  Mwanangu, usiisahau sheria yangu, Bali moyo wako uzishike amri zangu.

2  Maana zitakuongezea wingi wa siku. Na miaka ya uzima, na amani.
3  Rehema na kweli zisifarakane nawe; Zifunge shingoni mwako; Ziandike juu ya kibao cha moyo wako.
4  Ndivyo utakavyopata kibali na akili nzuri, Mbele za Mungu na mbele ya mwanadamu.
5  Mtumaini Bwana kwa moyo wako wote, Wala usizitegemee akili zako mwenyewe;
6  Katika njia zako zote mkiri yeye, Naye atayanyosha mapito yako.
7  Usiwe mwenye hekima machoni pako; Mche Bwana, ukajiepushe na uovu.
8  Itakuwa afya mwilini pako,
9  Mheshimu Bwana kwa mali yako, Na kwa malimbuko ya mazao yako yote.
10  Ndipo ghala zako zitakapojazwa kwa wingi, Na mashinikizo yako yatafurika divai mpya.
11  Mwanangu, usidharau kuadhibiwa na Bwana, Wala usione ni taabu kurudiwa naye.
12  Kwa kuwa Bwana ampendaye humrudi, Kama vile baba mwanawe ampendezaye.
13  Heri mtu yule aonaye hekima, Na mtu yule apataye ufahamu.
14  Maana biashara yake ni bora kuliko biashara ya fedha, Na faida yake ni nyingi kuliko dhahabu safi.
15  Yeye ana thamani kuliko marijani, Wala vyote uvitamanivyo havilingani naye.
16  Ana wingi wa siku katika mkono wake wa kuume, Utajiri na heshima katika mkono wake wa kushoto.
17  Njia zake ni njia za kupendeza sana, Na mapito yake yote ni amani.
18  Yeye ni mti wa uzima kwao wamshikao sana; Ana heri kila mtu ashikamanaye naye.
19  Kwa hekima Bwana aliiweka misingi ya nchi; Kwa akili zake akazifanya mbingu imara;
20  Kwa maarifa yake vilindi viligawanyika; Na mawingu yadondoza umande.
21  Mwanangu, yasiondoke haya machoni pako, Shika hekima kamili na busara.
22  Basi yatakuwa uzima kwa nafsi yako, Na neema shingoni mwako.
23  Ndipo utakapokwenda katika njia yako salama, Wala mguu wako hautakwaa.
24  Ulalapo hutaona hofu; Naam, utalala na usingizi wako utakuwa mtamu.
25  Usiogope hofu ya ghafula, Wala uharibifu wa waovu utakapofika.
26  Kwa kuwa Bwana atakuwa tumaini lako, Naye atakulinda mguu wako usinaswe.
27  Usiwanyime watu mema yaliyo haki yao, Ikiwa katika uwezo wa mkono wako kuyatenda.
28  Usimwambie jirani yako, Nenda, urudi halafu, na kesho nitakupa; Nawe unacho kitu kile karibu nawe.
29  Usiwaze mabaya juu ya jirani yako, Ambaye anakaa karibu nawe na kujiona salama.
30  Usishindane na mtu bila sababu, Ikiwa hakukudhuru kwa lo lote.
31  Usimhusudu mtu mwenye jeuri, Wala usiichague mojawapo ya njia zake.
32  Maana mtu mkaidi ni chukizo kwa Bwana, Bali siri yake ni pamoja na wanyofu.
33  Laana ya Bwana i katika nyumba ya waovu, Bali huibariki maskani ya mwenye haki.
34  Hakika yake huwadharau wenye dharau, Bali huwapa wanyenyekevu neema.
35  Wenye hekima wataurithi utukufu, Bali kukuzwa kwa wapumbavu ni fedheha.

¹ My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

² For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

⁴ So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

⁹ Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

¹² For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

¹³ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

¹⁴ For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

¹⁹ The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

²⁰ By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

²² So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

²⁴ When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

²⁶ For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

³² For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

³³ The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.