Proverbs 22
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Heri kuchagua jina jema kuliko utajiri mwingi, kuheshimiwa ni bora kuliko fedha au dhahabu.
2 The rich and the poor meet together. Jehovah is the maker of them all.
Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
3 A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself, but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele kama kipofu nayo ikamtesa.
4 The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah is riches and honor and life.
Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of a perverse man. He who keeps his soul shall be far from them.
Katika mapito ya waovu kuna miiba na mitego, bali yeye ailindaye nafsi yake hukaa mbali nayo.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea, naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
8 He who sows iniquity shall reap calamity, and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu, nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
9 He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out, yea, strife and reproach will cease.
Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka, na mvutano utatoweka; ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
11 He who loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips, the king will be his friend.
Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
13 The sluggard says, There is a lion outside. I shall be slain in the streets.
Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
14 The mouth of interloping women is a deep pit. He who is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall in it.
Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu; yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
16 He who oppresses a poor man to his increase, and he who gives to a rich man, comes only to want.
Yeye amwoneaye maskini ili kujiongezea mali, naye ampaye tajiri zawadi, wote huwa maskini.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
Tega sikio na usikie misemo ya wenye hekima, elekeza moyo wako kwenye yale nifundishayo,
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
kwa maana inapendeza unapoyahifadhi moyoni mwako na kuwa nayo yote tayari midomoni mwako.
19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
20 Have I not written to thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge,
Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini, misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
21 to make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou may carry back words of truth to those who send thee?
kukufundisha maneno ya kweli na ya kuaminika, ili uweze kutoa majibu sahihi kwake yeye aliyekutuma?
22 Do not rob a poor man, because he is poor, nor oppress an afflicted man in the gate.
Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini, wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
23 For Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil of life those who despoil them.
kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
24 Make no friendship with a man who is given to anger, and thou shall not go with a wrathful man,
Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
25 lest thou learn this ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
26 Be thou not one of those who strike hands, or of those who are sureties for debts.
Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
27 If thou have not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani lililowekwa na baba zako.
29 See thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.
Je, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake? Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme; hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
