1
Utakapoketi kwa chakula pamoja na mtawala, Mwangalie sana yeye aliye mbele yako.
When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,
2
Tena ujitie kisu kooni, Kama ukiwa mlafi.
and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.
3
Usivitamani vyakula vyake vya anasa; Kwa maana ni vyakula vya hila.
Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.
4
Usijitaabishe ili kupata utajiri; Acha kuzitegemea akili zako mwenyewe.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.
5
Je! Utavikazia macho vile ambavyo si kitu? Maana bila shaka mali hujifanyia mabawa, Kama tai arukaye mbinguni.
When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
6
Usile mkate wa mtu mwenye husuda; Wala usivitamani vyakula vyake vya anasa;
Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his delicacies;
7
Maana aonavyo nafsini mwake, ndivyo alivyo. Akuambia, Haya, kula, kunywa; Lakini moyo wake hauwi pamoja nawe.
for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.
8
Tonge lile ulilokula utalitapika, Na maneno yako matamu yatakupotea.
You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.
9
Usiseme masikioni mwa mpumbavu; Maana atadharau hekima ya maneno yako.
Do not speak to a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.
10
Usiiondoe alama ya mpaka wa zamani; Wala usiingie katika mashamba ya yatima;
Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
11
Kwa sababu mkombozi wao ana nguvu; Atawatetea juu yako.
for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
12
Elekeza moyo wako kusikiliza mafundisho; Tega masikio yako kusikia maneno ya maarifa.
Apply your heart to instruction and your ears to words of knowledge.
13
Usimnyime mtoto wako mapigo; Maana ukimpiga kwa fimbo hatakufa.
Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14
Utampiga kwa fimbo, Na kumwokoa nafsi yake na Kuzimu.
Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.
15
Mwanangu, kama moyo wako una hekima, Moyo wangu utafurahi, naam, moyo wangu;
My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will indeed rejoice.
16
Naam, viuno vyangu vitafurahi, Midomo yako inenapo maneno mema.
My inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
17
Moyo wako usiwahusudu wenye dhambi; Bali mche Bwana mchana kutwa;
Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always continue in the fear of the LORD.
18
Maana bila shaka iko thawabu; Na tumaini lako halitabatilika.
For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19
Sikia, mwanangu, uwe na hekima, Na kuuongoza moyo wako katika njia njema.
Listen, my son, and be wise, and guide your heart on the right course.
20
Usiwe miongoni mwao wanywao mvinyo; Miongoni mwao walao nyama kwa pupa.
Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat.
21
Kwa maana mlevi na mlafi huingia umaskini, Na utepetevu humvika mtu nguo mbovu.
For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe them in rags.
22
Msikilize baba yako aliyekuzaa, Wala usimdharau mama yako akiwa mzee.
Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23
Inunue kweli, wala usiiuze; Naam, hekima, na mafundisho, na ufahamu.
Invest in truth and never sell it—in wisdom and instruction and understanding.
24
Baba yake mwenye haki atashangilia; Naye amzaaye mtoto mwenye hekima atamfurahia.
The father of a righteous man will greatly rejoice, and he who fathers a wise son will delight in him.
25
Na wafurahi baba yako na mama yako; Na afurahi aliyekuzaa.
May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!
26
Mwanangu, nipe moyo wako; Macho yako yapendezwe na njia zangu.
My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes delight in my ways.
27
Kwa maana kahaba ni shimo refu; Na malaya ni rima jembamba.
For a prostitute is a deep pit, and an adulteress is a narrow well.
28
Naam, huotea kama mnyang'anyi; Huwaongeza wenye hila katika wanadamu.
Like a robber she lies in wait and multiplies the faithless among men.
29
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 contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30
Ni wale wakaao sana kwenye mvinyo; Waendao kutafuta divai iliyochanganyika.
Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks.
31
Usiitazame mvinyo iwapo ni nyekundu; Iitiapo bilauri rangi yake, ishukapo taratibu;
Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly.
32
Mwisho wake huuma kama nyoka; Huchoma kama fira.
In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
33
Macho yako yataona mambo mageni; Na moyo wako utatoa yaliyopotoka.
Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities.
34
Naam, utakuwa kama alalaye katikati ya bahari; Au kama yeye asinziaye juu ya mlingoti.
You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:
35
Utasema, Wamenichapa wala sikuumia; Wamenipiga wala sina habari; Nitaamka lini, nitazidi kuitafuta tena.
“They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”