Proverbs 1 – NIV & NEN

New International Version

Proverbs 1:1-33

Purpose and Theme

1The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

2for gaining wisdom and instruction;

for understanding words of insight;

3for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,

doing what is right and just and fair;

4for giving prudence to those who are simple,1:4 The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.

knowledge and discretion to the young—

5let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance—

6for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.1:6 Or understanding a proverb, namely, a parable, / and the sayings of the wise, their riddles

7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools1:7 The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient. despise wisdom and instruction.

Prologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom

Warning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men

8Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.

9They are a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

10My son, if sinful men entice you,

do not give in to them.

11If they say, “Come along with us;

let’s lie in wait for innocent blood,

let’s ambush some harmless soul;

12let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,

and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

13we will get all sorts of valuable things

and fill our houses with plunder;

14cast lots with us;

we will all share the loot”—

15my son, do not go along with them,

do not set foot on their paths;

16for their feet rush into evil,

they are swift to shed blood.

17How useless to spread a net

where every bird can see it!

18These men lie in wait for their own blood;

they ambush only themselves!

19Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;

it takes away the life of those who get it.

Wisdom’s Rebuke

20Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,

she raises her voice in the public square;

21on top of the wall1:21 Septuagint; Hebrew / at noisy street corners she cries out,

at the city gate she makes her speech:

22“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?

How long will mockers delight in mockery

and fools hate knowledge?

23Repent at my rebuke!

Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,

I will make known to you my teachings.

24But since you refuse to listen when I call

and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,

25since you disregard all my advice

and do not accept my rebuke,

26I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;

I will mock when calamity overtakes you—

27when calamity overtakes you like a storm,

when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,

when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

28“Then they will call to me but I will not answer;

they will look for me but will not find me,

29since they hated knowledge

and did not choose to fear the Lord.

30Since they would not accept my advice

and spurned my rebuke,

31they will eat the fruit of their ways

and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

32For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33but whoever listens to me will live in safety

and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Kiswahili Contemporary Version (Neno: Bibilia Takatifu)

Mithali 1:1-33

Utangulizi: Kusudi Na Kiini

11:1 1Fal 4:29-34Mithali za Solomoni mwana wa Daudi, mfalme wa Israeli:

2Kwa kupata hekima na nidhamu;

kwa kufahamu maneno ya busara;

31:3 Mit 2:1; 2:1, 9kwa kujipatia nidhamu na busara,

kufanya lililo sawa, haki na bila kupendelea;

41:4 Mit 8:5, 12; 2:10-11huwapa busara wajinga,

maarifa na akili kwa vijana;

51:5 Mit 9:9wenye hekima na wasikilize nao waongeze elimu yao,

wenye kupambanua na wapate mwongozo;

61:6 Za 78:2; Mt 13:10-17; Hes 12:8; Amu 14:12kwa kufahamu mithali na mifano,

misemo na vitendawili vya wenye hekima.

71:7 Kut 20:20; Ay 28:28Kumcha Bwana ndicho chanzo cha maarifa,

lakini wapumbavu hudharau hekima na adabu.

Onyo Dhidi Ya Ushawishi Wa Marafiki Waovu

81:8 Mit 6:20; 22:17; Kum 21:18Mwanangu, sikiliza mwongozo wa baba yako,

wala usiyaache mafundisho ya mama yako.

91:9 Mit 3:21-22; 4:1-9Hayo yatakuwa taji la maua la neema kichwani pako,

na mkufu wa kuipamba shingo yako.

101:10 Mwa 39:7; Ay 24:15; Kum 13:8; Rum 16:18Mwanangu, kama wenye dhambi wakikushawishi,

usikubaliane nao.

111:11 Mit 12:6; Yer 5:26; Mik 7:2Kama wakisema, “Twende tufuatane;

tukamvizie mtu na kumwaga damu,

njoo tukavizie nafsi isiyo na hatia;

121:12 Ay 33:18; Mwa 38:25; Za 40:3tuwameze wakiwa hai kama kaburi,1:12 Kaburi hapa maana yake ni Kuzimu, kwa Kiebrania ni Sheol.

wakiwa wazima kama wale wanaotumbukia shimoni.

13Tutapata aina zote za vitu vya thamani

na kujaza nyumba zetu kwa nyara.

141:14 Mit 1:19Njoo ushirikiane nasi,

vitu vyote tutakavyopata tutagawana.”

151:15 Za 119:101; Mwa 49:6; Mit 4:14Mwanangu, usiandamane nao.

Usiweke mguu wako katika njia zao,

161:16 Mit 6:18; Isa 59:7kwa kuwa miguu yao hukimbilia kwenye dhambi,

ni wepesi kumwaga damu.

17Tazama ni jinsi gani ilivyo kazi bure kutandaza wavu

wakati ndege wote wanakuona!

181:18 Za 71:10Watu hawa huvizia kumwaga damu yao wenyewe;

hujivizia tu wenyewe!

191:19 Mit 11:19; 15:27; 2Fal 5:20-27Huu ndio mwisho wa wote ambao wanajipatia mali kwa hila;

huuondoa uhai wa wale wenye mali.

Onyo Dhidi Ya Kukataa Hekima

201:20 Ay 28:12; Mt 7:10-13; 9:1-3, 13-15Hekima huita kwa sauti kuu barabarani,

hupaza sauti yake kwenye viwanja vikubwa;

21kwenye makutano ya barabara za mji

zenye makelele mengi hupaza sauti,

kwenye malango ya mji hutoa hotuba yake:

221:22 Mit 6:32; 7:7; 8:5; 9:4, 16; Za 50:17“Enyi wajinga, mtangʼangʼania ujinga wenu hadi lini?

Mpaka lini wenye mizaha watafurahia mizaha,

na wapumbavu kuchukia maarifa?

231:23 Yoe 2:28; Yn 7:37Kama mngekuwa mmeitikia karipio langu,

ningekuwa nimemimina roho yangu kwenu

na kuwafahamisha maneno yangu.

241:24 Isa 65:12; Zek 7:11Lakini kwa kuwa mlinikataa nilipowaita

na hakuna yeyote aliyekubali

niliponyoosha mkono wangu,

251:25 Lk 7:30kwa kuwa mliyapuuza mashauri yangu yote

na hamkukubali karipio langu,

261:26 Za 2:4; Kum 28:63; Mit 10:24mimi nami nitawacheka katika maafa yenu,

nitawadhihaki wakati janga litawapata:

271:27 Za 18:18; Mit 5:12-14wakati janga litawapata kama tufani,

wakati maafa yatawazoa kama upepo wa kisulisuli,

wakati dhiki na taabu zitawalemea.

281:28 Isa 1:15; Mik 3:4; Eze 8:18; Hos 5:6“Ndipo watakaponiita lakini sitawajibu;

watanitafuta lakini hawatanipata.

291:29 Ay 21:14; Isa 27:11; Mdo 7:51Kwa kuwa walichukia maarifa,

wala hawakuchagua kumcha Bwana,

301:30 Ay 21:14; Za 81:11kwa kuwa hawakukubali mashauri yangu,

na kukataa maonyo yangu,

311:31 2Nya 36:16; Yer 14:16watakula matunda ya njia zao,

na watashibishwa matunda ya hila zao.

321:32 Isa 66:4; Yer 2:19Kwa kuwa ukaidi wa wajinga utawaua,

nako kuridhika kwa wajinga kutawaangamiza.

331:33 Hes 24:21; Za 25:12; 112:8Lakini yeyote anisikilizaye ataishi kwa usalama,

atatulia, bila kuwa na hofu ya madhara.”