Proverbs 18
1 He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
Yule ambaye hujitenga hutafuta matakwa yake mwenyewe na hupingana na hukumu zote za kweli.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
Mpumbavu hapati raha katika ufahamu, lakini hufunua kile kilichopo katika moyo wake.
3 When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, and with disgrace, reproach.
Mtu mwovu anapokuja, dharau huja pamoja naye- sambamba na aibu na shutuma.
4 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
Maneno ya kinywa cha mtu ni maji yenye kina kirefu; chemchemi ya hekima ni mkondo unaotiririka.
5 To respect the person of a wicked man is not good, nor to turn aside a righteous man in judgment.
Si vema kuwa na upendeleo kwa mwovu, wala haifai kukana haki kwa wale watendao mema.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for stripes.
Midomo ya mpumbavu huletea mafarakano na kinywa chake hukaribisha mapigo.
7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na hujinasa mwenye kwa midomo yake.
8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
Maneno ya mmbea ni kama chembe tamu na hushuka katika sehema za ndani sana kwenye mwili.
9 He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
Basi, ambaye ni mzembe katika kazi yake ni ndugu yake anayeharibu wengi.
10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. A righteous man runs into it, and is safe.
Jina la Yehova ni mnara imara; atendaye haki hukimbilia na kuwa salama.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake imara na katika fikira zake ni kama ukuta mrefu.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Moyo wa mtu huwa na kiburi kabla ya anguko lake, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia kabla ya heshima.
13 He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
Anayejibu kabla ya kusikiliza- ni upuuzi na aibu yake.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
Roho ya mtu itajinusuru na madhara, bali roho iliyopondeka nani anaweza kuivumilia?
15 The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Moyo wa mwenye akili hujipatia maarifa na usikivu wa mwenye busara huitafuta.
16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Zawadi ya mtu inaweza kufungua njia na kumleta mbele ya mtu muhimu.
17 He who pleads his case first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
Wa kwanza kujitetea katika shitaka lake huonekana kuwa na haki hadi mpinzani wake aje na kumuuliza maswali.
18 The lot causes contentions to cease, and decides between the mighty.
Kupiga kura kunamaliza mabishano na kuwatawanya wapinzani imara.
19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kushawishiwa kuliko mji wenye nguvu, na kugombana ni kama makomeo ya ngome.
20 A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.
Tumbo la mtu litashiba kutoka kwenye tunda la kinywa chake; atatoshelezwa kwa mavuno ya midomo yake.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
Uzima na kifo hutawaliwa kwa ulimi, na wale wenye kuupenda ulimi watakula tunda lake.
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.
Yeye apataye mke anapata kitu chema na kupokea fadhila kutoka kwa Yehova.
23 A poor man uses entreaties, but a rich man answers roughly.
Mtu masikini huomba rehema, lakini mtu tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
24 He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Anayejidai kwa marafiki wengi watamleta katika uharibifu, bali yupo rafiki ambaye huwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
