Proverbs 17
1 Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
Ni bora kuwa na utulivu pamoja chembe za mkate kuliko nyumba yenye sherehe nyingi pamoja na ugomvi.
2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
Mtumishi mwenye busara atatawala juu ya mwana atendaye kwa aibu na atashiriki urithi kama mmoja wa ndugu.
3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuu ni kwa dhahabu, bali Yehova huisafisha mioyo.
4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
Mtu atendaye mabaya huwasikiliza wale wanaosema maovu; muongo anausikivu kwa wale wanaosema mambo mabaya.
5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
Mwenye kumdhihaki masikini humtukana Muumba wake na anayefurahia msiba hatakosa adhabu.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
Wajukuu ni taji ya wazee na wazazi huleta heshima kwa watoto wao.
7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
Hotuba ya ushawishi haifai kwa mpumbavu; kidogo zaidi midomo ya uongo inafaa kwa ufalme.
8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
Rushwa ni kama jiwe la kiini macho kwa yule ambaye atoaye; yeye anayeiacha, hufanikiwa.
9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
Anayesamehe kosa hutafuta upendo, bali yeye anayerudia jambo huwatenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
10 A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
Karipio hupenya ndani ya mtu mwenye ufahamu kuliko mapigo mamia kwenda kwa mpumbavu.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
Mtu mbaya hutafuta uasi tu, hivyo mjumbe katiri atatumwa dhidi yake.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
Ni bora kukutana na dubu aliyeporwa watoto wake kuliko kukutana na mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
Mtu anaporudisha mabaya badala ya mema, mabaya hayatatoka katika nyumba yake.
14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
Mwanzo wa mafarakano ni kama mtu anayefungulia maji kila mahali, hivyo ondoka kwenye mabishano kabla ya kutokea.
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
Yeye ambaye huwaachilia watu waovu au kuwalaumu wale wanaotenda haki - watu hawa wote ni chukizo kwa Yehova.
16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
Kwa nini mpumbavu alipe fedha kwa kujifunza hekima, wakati hana uwezo wa kujifunza?
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Rafiki hupenda kwa nyakati zote na ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya nyakati za taabu.
18 A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
Mtu asiyekuwa na akili hufanya ahadi zenye mashariti na kuanza kuwajibika kwa madeni ya jirani yake.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
Apendaye mafarakano anapenda dhambi; ambaye hutengeneza kizingiti kirefu sana kwenye mlango wake husababisha kuvunjia kwa mifupa.
20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
Mtu mwenye moyo wa udanganyifu hapati chochote ambacho ni chema; na mwenye ulimi wa ukaidi huanguka kwenye janga.
21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
Mzazi wa mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwake mwenyewe; baba wa mpumbavu hana furaha.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Moyo mchangamfu ni dawa njema, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa ya siri ili kupotosha njia za haki.
24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
Mwenye ufahamu huelekeza uso wake kwenye hekima, bali macho ya mpumbavu huelekea ncha za dunia.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
Mwana mpumbavu ni huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa mwanamke aliyemzaa.
26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
Pia, si vizuri kumwadhibu mwenye kutenda haki; wala si vema kuwachapa mjeledi watu waadilifu wenye ukamilifu.
27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
Mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno machache na mwenye ufahamu ni mtulivu.
28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
Hata mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na busara kama akikaa kimya; wakati anapokaa amefunga kinywa chake, anafikiriwa kuwa na akili.
