1
Je! Hekima halii? Ufahamu hatoi sauti yake?
Does not wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?
2
Juu ya mahali palipoinuka karibu na njia, Penye njia panda, ndipo asimamapo.
On the heights overlooking the road, at the crossroads she takes her stand.
3
Karibu na malango, mahali pa kuingia mjini, Mahali pa kuyaingilia malango anapiga kelele.
Beside the gates to the city, at the entrances she cries out:
4
Enyi watu, nawaita ninyi; Na sauti yangu ni kwa wanadamu.
“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.
5
Enyi wajinga, fahamuni werevu, Nanyi wapumbavu, mpate moyo wa kufahamu.
O simple ones, learn to be shrewd; O fools, gain understanding.
6
Sikieni, maana nitasema yaliyo mazuri, Na kufumbua midomo yangu kutakuwa maadili.
Listen, for I speak of noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right.
7
Maana kinywa changu kitasema kweli, Na uovu ni chukizo kwa midomo yangu.
For my mouth will speak the truth, and wickedness is detestable to my lips.
8
Maneno yote ya kinywa changu yana haki; Hapana hata neno lililopotoka au la ukaidi.
All the words of my mouth are righteous; none are crooked or perverse.
9
Yote humwelea yule afahamuye, Yote huelekea mbele yao waliopata maarifa.
They are all plain to the discerning, and upright to those who find knowledge.
10
Pokea mafundisho yangu, wala si fedha, Na maarifa kuliko dhahabu safi.
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11
Maana hekima ni bora kuliko marijani; Wala vyote vinavyotamanika havilingani nayo.
For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
12
Mimi, hekima, nimefanya werevu kuwa kao langu; Natafuta maarifa na busara.
I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13
Kumcha Bwana ni kuchukia uovu; Kiburi na majivuno, na njia mbovu, Na kinywa cha ukaidi pia nakichukia.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
14
Shauri ni langu, na maarifa yaliyo sahihi; Mimi ni ufahamu, mimi nina nguvu.
Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight and strength.
15
Kwa msaada wangu wafalme humiliki, Na wakuu wanahukumu haki.
By me kings reign, and rulers enact just laws;
16
Kwa msaada wangu wakuu hutawala, Na waungwana, naam, waamuzi wote wa dunia.
By me princes rule, and all nobles who govern justly.
17
Nawapenda wale wanipendao, Na wale wanitafutao kwa bidii wataniona.
I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.
18
Utajiri na heshima ziko kwangu, Naam, utajiri udumuo, na haki pia.
With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19
Matunda yangu hupita dhahabu, naam, dhahabu safi, Na faida yangu hupita fedha iliyo teule.
My fruit is better than gold, pure gold, and my harvest surpasses choice silver.
20
Natembea katika njia ya haki, Katikati ya mapito ya hukumu.
I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21
Niwarithishe mali wale wanipendao, Tena nipate kuzijaza hazina zao.
bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.
22
Bwana alikuwa nami katika mwanzo wa njia yake, Kabla ya matendo yake ya kale.
The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
23
Nalitukuka tokea milele, tangu awali, Kabla haijawako dunia.
From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began.
24
Wakati visipokuwako vilindi nalizaliwa, Wakati zisipokuwako chemchemi zilizojaa maji.
When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water.
25
Kabla milima haijawekwa imara, Kabla ya vilima nalizaliwa.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26
Alipokuwa hajaiumba dunia, wala makonde Wala chanzo cha mavumbi ya dunia;
before He made the land or fields, or any of the dust of the earth.
27
Alipozithibitisha mbingu nalikuwako; Alipopiga duara katika uso wa bahari;
I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28
Alipofanya imara mawingu yaliyo juu; Chemchemi za bahari zilipopata nguvu;
when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth,
29
Alipoipa bahari mpaka wake, Kwamba maji yake yasiasi amri yake; Alipoiagiza misingi ya nchi;
when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth.
30
Ndipo nilipokuwa pamoja naye, kama stadi wa kazi; Nikawa furaha yake kila siku; Nikifurahi daima mbele zake;
Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence.
31
Nikiifurahia dunia inayokaliwa na watu; Na furaha yangu ilikuwa pamoja na wanadamu.
I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
32
Basi, wanangu, nisikilizeni sasa; Maana heri hao wazishikao amri zangu.
Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
33
Sikieni mafundisho, mpate hekima, Wala msiikatae.
Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34
Ana heri mtu yule anisikilizaye, Akisubiri sikuzote malangoni pangu, Akingoja penye vizingiti vya milango yangu.
Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at the posts of my doorway.
35
Maana yeye anionaye mimi aona uzima, Naye atapata kibali kwa Bwana.
For whoever finds me finds life and obtains the favor of the LORD.
36
Bali anikosaye hujidhuru nafsi yake mwenyewe, Na wao wanichukiao hupenda mauti.
But he who fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”