Proverbs 21
1 As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it wherever he may desire to point out.
Moyo wa mfalme uko katika mkono wa Bwana; huuongoza kama mkondo wa maji, popote apendapo.
2 Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
Njia zote za mwanadamu huonekana sawa kwake, bali Bwana huupima moyo.
3 To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
Kufanya yaliyo sawa na haki inakubalika zaidi kwa Bwana kuliko dhabihu.
4 A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
Macho ya kudharau na moyo wa kiburi, ambavyo ni taa ya waovu, vyote ni dhambi!
Mipango ya mwenye bidii huelekeza kwenye faida, kama vile kwa hakika pupa huelekeza kwenye umaskini.
6 He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
Mali iliyopatikana kwa ulimi wa uongo ni mvuke upitao upesi na mtego wa kufisha.
7 Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
Jeuri ya waovu itawaburuta mbali, kwa kuwa wanakataa kufanya yaliyo sawa.
8 To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
Njia ya mwenye hatia ni ya upotovu, bali tabia ya mtu asiye na hatia ni nyofu.
9 [It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
Ni afadhali kuishi pembeni mwa paa la nyumba, kuliko kuishi nyumba moja na mke mgomvi.
10 The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
Mtu mwovu hutamani sana ubaya, jirani yake hapati huruma kutoka kwake.
11 When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
Wakati mwenye mzaha ameadhibiwa, mjinga hupata hekima; wakati mtu mwenye hekima afundishwapo, hupata maarifa.
12 A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
Mwenye Haki huyajua yanayotendeka katika nyumba za waovu, naye atawaangamiza waovu.
13 He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
Mtu akiziba masikio asisikie kilio cha maskini, yeye pia atalia, wala hatajibiwa.
14 A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
Zawadi itolewayo kwa siri hutuliza hasira na rushwa iliyofichwa kwenye nguo hutuliza ghadhabu kali.
15 [It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgement: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
Wakati haki imetendeka, huleta furaha kwa wenye haki, bali kitisho kwa watenda mabaya.
16 A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
Mtu anayepotea kutoka mapito ya ufahamu, hupumzika katika kundi la waliokufa.
17 A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
Mtu apendaye anasa atakuwa maskini, yeyote apendaye mvinyo na mafuta kamwe hatakuwa tajiri.
18 and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
Waovu huwa fidia kwa ajili ya wenye haki, nao wasio waaminifu kwa ajili ya wanyofu.
19 [It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
Ni afadhali kuishi jangwani kuliko kuishi na mke mgomvi na mkorofi.
20 A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
Katika nyumba ya mwenye hekima kuna akiba ya vyakula vizuri na mafuta, lakini mtu mpumbavu hutafuna vyote alivyo navyo.
21 The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
Yeye afuatiaye haki na upendo hupata uzima, mafanikio na heshima.
22 A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
Mtu mwenye hekima huushambulia mji wa wenye nguvu, na kuangusha ngome wanazozitegemea.
23 He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
Yeye alindaye kinywa chake na ulimi wake hujilinda na maafa.
24 A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
Mtu mwenye kiburi na majivuno, “Mdhihaki” ndilo jina lake; hutenda mambo kwa kiburi kilichozidi.
25 Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
Kutamani sana kwa mvivu kutakuwa kifo chake, kwa sababu mikono yake haitaki kufanya kazi.
26 An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
Mchana kutwa hutamani zaidi, lakini mnyofu hutoa pasipo kuzuia.
27 The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
Dhabihu ya mtu mwovu ni chukizo, si zaidi sana itolewapo kwa nia mbaya!
28 A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
Shahidi wa uongo ataangamia, bali maneno ya mwenye kusikia yatadumu.
29 An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
Mtu mwovu ana uso wa ushupavu, bali mtu mnyofu huzifikiria njia zake.
30 There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
Hakuna hekima, wala akili, wala mpango unaoweza kufaulu dhidi ya Bwana.
31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
Farasi huandaliwa kwa ajili ya siku ya vita, bali ushindi huwa kwa Bwana.
