< Proverbs 18 >
1 He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.
Mũndũ ũrĩa ũtendaga gũtũũrania na andũ arũmagĩrĩra o merirĩria make; ningĩ areganaga na matua mothe ma ũũgĩ ũrĩa mũkinyanĩru.
2 A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light.
Mũndũ mũkĩĩgu ndakenagĩra ũtaũku, no akenagĩra kwaria woni wake mwene.
3 When the evil-doer comes, a low opinion comes with him, and with the loss of honour comes shame.
Rĩrĩa waganu woka, ũrehaga ũirano, nacio njono irehaga thoni.
4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.
Ciugo cia kanua ka mũndũ nĩ ta ndia ndiku, no gĩthima kĩa ũũgĩ nĩ karũũĩ gatherũkaga.
5 To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not good, or to give a wrong decision against the upright.
Ti wega gũtĩĩra andũ arĩa aaganu maũthĩ, kana kuogomia kĩhooto kĩa arĩa matehĩtie.
6 A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows.
Mĩromo ya mũndũ mũkĩĩgu ĩmũrehagĩra ngũĩ, nako kanua gake geetagia rũthanju.
7 The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul.
Kanua ka mũndũ mũkĩĩgu nĩko kamũthũkagĩria maũndũ, nayo mĩromo yake nĩ mũtego wa ngoro yake.
8 The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.
Ndeto cia mũndũ wa mũhuhu nĩ ta twenyũ twega twa irio; tũmerũkaga nginya tũturi-inĩ twa nda tũrĩa tũrĩ thĩinĩ mũno.
9 He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction.
Mũndũ kĩgũũta wĩra-inĩ wake nĩ wa nyina na ũrĩa wanangaga.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright man running into it is safe.
Rĩĩtwa rĩa Jehova nĩ mũthiringo ũrĩ hinya; arĩa athingu moragĩra ho, nao magaikara marĩ agitĩre.
11 The property of a man of wealth is his strong town, and it is as a high wall in the thoughts of his heart.
Ũtonga wa andũ arĩa atongu nĩguo itũũra rĩao rĩa hinya; meciiragia nĩ rũthingo rũtangĩhaicĩka.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit.
Mbere ya mwanangĩko, ngoro ya mũndũ ĩkoragwo na mwĩtĩĩo, no kwĩnyiihia nĩkuo gũtongoragia gĩtĩĩo.
13 To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame.
Mũndũ ũrĩa ũcookagia ũhoro mbere ya kũũthikĩrĩria, ũndũ ũcio nĩ ũrimũ na thoni ciake.
14 The spirit of a man will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up?
Roho wa mũndũ nĩguo ũmũũmagĩrĩria rĩrĩa arĩ mũrũaru, no roho mũthuthĩku nũũ ũngĩhota kũwĩtiiria?
15 The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge.
Ngoro ya mũndũ mũkũũrani maũndũ nĩĩgĩagĩra ũmenyo; matũ ma arĩa oogĩ nĩmaũcaragĩrĩria.
16 A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men.
Kĩheo mũndũ aheanĩte kĩmuonagia njĩra ya kũhĩtũkĩra, gĩkamũkinyia harĩ andũ arĩa anene.
17 The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light.
Mũndũ ũrĩa ũrehaga ciira wake mbere onekaga taarĩ we na ma, o nginya rĩrĩa mũndũ ũrĩa maraciira nake ooka kũmũũria ciũria.
18 The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong.
Ũcuuki wa mĩtĩ nĩũniinaga ngarari, na ũgateithũrana andũ eerĩ njamba.
19 A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower.
Mũndũ mũrakarie nĩ mũrũ wa nyina nĩ hinya kwĩiguithania nake gũkĩra kwĩgwatĩra itũũra inene rĩirigĩre, nacio ngarari nĩ ta mĩgĩĩko ĩrĩa ĩhingaga njeera.
20 With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure.
Nda ya mũndũ nĩĩhũũnagio nĩ maciaro ma kanua gake; nĩaiganagwo nĩ magetha ma mĩromo yake.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.
Rũrĩmĩ rũrĩ na hinya wa gwathĩrĩra mũndũ muoyo kana gĩkuũ, no arĩa marwendete no marĩĩage maciaro maaruo.
22 Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the approval of the Lord.
Mũndũ ũrĩa wĩgĩĩagĩra na mũtumia nĩegĩagĩra na kĩndũ kĩega, na nĩgũtugwo atugĩtwo nĩ Jehova.
23 The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of wealth gives a rough answer.
Mũndũ mũthĩĩni athaithanaga aiguĩrwo tha, no gĩtonga gĩcookagia ũhoro na ũũru.
24 There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.
Mũndũ mũceeri na andũ aingĩ aahota kwĩyũnũhithia, no nĩ kũrĩ mũrata ũnyiitanaga na mũndũ gũkĩra mũrũ wa nyina na mũndũ.