Utakapoketi kwa chakula pamoja na mtawala, Mwangalie sana yeye aliye mbele yako.
When you sit to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently what is before you;
Tena ujitie kisu kooni, Kama ukiwa mlafi.
Put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.
Usivitamani vyakula vyake vya anasa; Kwa maana ni vyakula vya hila.
Don't be desirous of his dainties, Seeing they are deceitful food.
Usijitaabishe ili kupata utajiri; Acha kuzitegemea akili zako mwenyewe.
Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
Je! Utavikazia macho vile ambavyo si kitu? Maana bila shaka mali hujifanyia mabawa, Kama tai arukaye mbinguni.
Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
Usile mkate wa mtu mwenye husuda; Wala usivitamani vyakula vyake vya anasa;
Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, And don't crave his delicacies:
Maana aonavyo nafsini mwake, ndivyo alivyo. Akuambia, Haya, kula, kunywa; Lakini moyo wake hauwi pamoja nawe.
For as he thinks about the cost, so he is. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
Tonge lile ulilokula utalitapika, Na maneno yako matamu yatakupotea.
The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, And lose your good words.
Usiseme masikioni mwa mpumbavu; Maana atadharau hekima ya maneno yako.
Don't speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
Usiiondoe alama ya mpaka wa zamani; Wala usiingie katika mashamba ya yatima;
Don't move the ancient boundary stone. Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
Kwa sababu mkombozi wao ana nguvu; Atawatetea juu yako.
For their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
Elekeza moyo wako kusikiliza mafundisho; Tega masikio yako kusikia maneno ya maarifa.
Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to the words of knowledge.
Usimnyime mtoto wako mapigo; Maana ukimpiga kwa fimbo hatakufa.
Don't withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
Utampiga kwa fimbo, Na kumwokoa nafsi yake na Kuzimu.
Punish him with the rod, And save his soul from Sheol.
Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una hekima, Moyo wangu utafurahi, naam, moyo wangu;
My son, if your heart is wise, Then my heart will be glad, even mine:
Naam, viuno vyangu vitafurahi, Midomo yako inenapo maneno mema.
Yes, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.
Moyo wako usiwahusudu wenye dhambi; Bali mche Bwana mchana kutwa;
Don't let your heart envy sinners; But rather fear Yahweh all the day long.
Maana bila shaka iko thawabu; Na tumaini lako halitabatilika.
Indeed surely there is a future hope, And your hope will not be cut off.
Sikia, mwanangu, uwe na hekima, Na kuuongoza moyo wako katika njia njema.
Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path!
Usiwe miongoni mwao wanywao mvinyo; Miongoni mwao walao nyama kwa pupa.
Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, Or those who gorge themselves on meat:
Kwa maana mlevi na mlafi huingia umaskini, Na utepetevu humvika mtu nguo mbovu.
For the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; And drowsiness clothes them in rags.
Msikilize baba yako aliyekuzaa, Wala usimdharau mama yako akiwa mzee.
Listen to your father who gave you life, And don't despise your mother when she is old.
Inunue kweli, wala usiiuze; Naam, hekima, na mafundisho, na ufahamu.
Buy the truth, and don't sell it: Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
Baba yake mwenye haki atashangilia; Naye amzaaye mtoto mwenye hekima atamfurahia.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Na wafurahi baba yako na mama yako; Na afurahi aliyekuzaa.
Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako; Macho yako yapendezwe na njia zangu.
My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes keep in my ways.
Kwa maana kahaba ni shimo refu; Na malaya ni rima jembamba.
For a prostitute is a deep pit; And a wayward wife is a narrow well.
Naam, huotea kama mnyang'anyi; Huwaongeza wenye hila katika wanadamu.
Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, And increases the unfaithful among men.
Ni nani apigaye, Yowe? Ni nani aliaye, Ole? Ni nani mwenye ugomvi? Ni nani mwenye mguno? Ni nani aliye na jeraha zisizo na sababu? Ni nani aliye na macho mekundu?
Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
Ni wale wakaao sana kwenye mvinyo; Waendao kutafuta divai iliyochanganyika.
Those who stay long at the wine; Those who go to seek out mixed wine.
Usiitazame mvinyo iwapo ni nyekundu; Iitiapo bilauri rangi yake, ishukapo taratibu;
Don't look at the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it goes down smoothly:
Mwisho wake huuma kama nyoka; Huchoma kama fira.
In the end, it bites like a snake, And poisons like a viper.
Macho yako yataona mambo mageni; Na moyo wako utatoa yaliyopotoka.
Your eyes will see strange things, And your mind will imagine confusing things.
Naam, utakuwa kama alalaye katikati ya bahari; Au kama yeye asinziaye juu ya mlingoti.
Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or as he who lies on top of the rigging:
Utasema, Wamenichapa wala sikuumia; Wamenipiga wala sina habari; Nitaamka lini, nitazidi kuitafuta tena.
"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 can find another."