1
Usiwahusudu watu waovu, Wala usitamani kuwa pamoja nao;
Do not envy wicked men or desire their company;
2
Kwa maana moyo wao hufikiri dhuluma, Na midomo yao huongea madhara.
for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.
3
Nyumba hujengwa kwa hekima, Na kwa ufahamu huthibitika,
By wisdom a house is built and by understanding it is established;
4
Na kwa maarifa vyumba vyake hujazwa Vitu vyote vya thamani na vya kupendeza.
through knowledge its rooms are filled with every precious and beautiful treasure.
5
Mtu mwenye hekima ana nguvu; Naam, mtu wa maarifa huongeza uwezo;
A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge enhances his strength.
6
Maana kwa mashauri ya akili utafanya vita; Na kwa wingi wa washauri huja wokovu.
Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.
7
Kwa mpumbavu hekima haipatikani; Hafumbui kinywa chake langoni.
Wisdom is too high for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the meeting place.
8
Mtu afikiriye kutenda maovu, Watu watamwita mtundu;
He who plots evil will be called a schemer.
9
Fikira za mpumbavu ni dhambi, Na mwenye mzaha huwachukiza watu.
A foolish scheme is sin, and a mocker is detestable to men.
10
Ukizimia siku ya taabu, Nguvu zako ni chache.
If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
11
Uwaokoe wanaochukuliwa ili wauawe; Nao walio tayari kuchinjwa uwaopoe.
Rescue those being led away to death, and restrain those stumbling toward the slaughter.
12
Ukisema, Sisi hatukujua hayo; Je! Yeye aipimaye mioyo siye afahamuye? Naye ailindaye nafsi yako siye ajuaye? Je! Hatamlipa kila mtu sawasawa na kazi yake?
If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
13
Mwanangu, ule asali, kwa maana ni njema, Na sega la asali lililo tamu ulionjapo.
Eat honey, my son, for it is good, and the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
14
Basi utaijua hekima kuwa tamu kwa nafsi yako; Ikiwa umekwisha kuiona; Ndipo itakapofuata thawabu; Wala tumaini lako halitabatilika.
Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.
15
Ewe mtu mbaya, usiyavizie makao yake mwenye haki; Wala usipaharibu mahali pake pa kupumzika;
Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, near the dwelling of the righteous; do not destroy his resting place.
16
Kwa maana mwenye haki huanguka mara saba akaondoka tena; Bali wasio haki hukwazwa na mabaya.
For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
17
Usifurahi, adui yako aangukapo; Wala moyo wako usishangilie ajikwaapo;
Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
18
Bwana asije akaliona hilo, likamkasirisha; Akageuzia mbali naye hasira yake.
or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
19
Usikasirike kwa sababu ya watenda mabaya; Wala usiwahusudu wabaya;
Do not fret over evildoers, and do not be envious of the wicked.
20
Kwa maana mtu mbaya hapati thawabu; Taa ya mtu mbaya itazimika.
For the evil man has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.
21
Mwanangu, mche Bwana, na mfalme; Wala usishirikiane na wenye kigeugeu;
My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not associate with the rebellious.
22
Maana msiba wao utatokea kwa ghafula; Tena ni nani aujuaye uharibifu wa miaka yao.
For they will bring sudden destruction. Who knows what ruin they can bring?
23
Haya nayo pia ni maneno ya wenye akili. Kupendelea watu katika hukumu si kwema.
These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judgment is not good.
24
Amwambiaye mtu mwovu, Wewe una haki; Kabila za watu watamlaani, taifa watamchukia.
Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;
25
Bali kwao wakemeao furaha itakuwako; Na baraka ya kufanikiwa itawajilia.
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them.
26
Aibusu midomo atoaye jawabu la haki.
An honest answer given is like a kiss on the lips.
27
Tengeneza kazi yako huko nje, Jifanyizie kazi yako tayari shambani, Ukiisha, jenga nyumba yako.
Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.
28
Usimshuhudie jirani yako pasipo sababu, Wala usidanganye kwa midomo yako.
Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not deceive with your lips.
29
Usiseme, Nitamtenda kama alivyonitenda mimi; Nitamlipa mtu huyo sawasawa na tendo lake.
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”
30
Nalipita karibu na shamba la mvivu, Na shamba la mizabibu la mtu asiye na akili.
I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment.
31
Kumbe! Lote pia limemea miiba; Uso wake ulifunikwa kwa viwawi; Na ukuta wake wa mawe umebomoka.
Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down.
32
Ndipo nilipoangalia na kufikiri sana; Naliona, nikapata mafundisho.
I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction:
33
Bado kulala kidogo, kusinzia kidogo, Bado kukunja mikono upate usingizi!
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34
Hivyo, umaskini wako huja kama mnyang'anyi, Na uhitaji wako kama mtu mwenye silaha.
and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.