Proverbs 16
1 It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.
Mipango ya moyoni ni ya mwanadamu, bali jibu la ulimi hutoka kwa Bwana.
2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.
Njia zote za mtu huonekana safi machoni pake mwenyewe, bali makusudi hupimwa na Bwana.
3 Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
Mkabidhi Bwana lolote ufanyalo, nayo mipango yako itafanikiwa.
4 The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
Bwana hufanya kila kitu kwa kusudi lake mwenyewe; hata waovu kwa siku ya maangamizi.
5 Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice; and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.
Bwana huwachukia sana wote wenye kiburi cha moyo. Uwe na hakika kwa hili: Hawataepuka kuadhibiwa.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
Kwa upendo na uaminifu uovu huondolewa; kwa kumcha Bwana mtu hujiepusha na ubaya.
7 When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
Njia za mtu zinapompendeza Bwana, huwafanya hata adui zake waishi naye kwa amani.
8 Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.
Afadhali kitu kidogo pamoja na haki kuliko mapato mengi pamoja na udhalimu.
9 The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
Moyo wa mtu huifikiri njia yake, bali Bwana huelekeza hatua zake.
10 Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.
Midomo ya mfalme huzungumza kwa hekima ya kiungu, wala kinywa chake hakipotoshi haki.
11 Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
Vipimo na mizani za halali hutoka kwa Bwana; mawe yote ya kupimia yaliyo katika mfuko ameyafanya yeye.
12 They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
Wafalme huchukia sana kutenda maovu, kwa maana kiti cha ufalme hufanywa imara kwa njia ya haki.
13 Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
Wafalme hufurahia midomo ya uaminifu; humthamini mtu asemaye kweli.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.
Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni mjumbe wa mauti, bali mtu mwenye hekima ataituliza.
15 In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
Uso wa mfalme ungʼaapo, inamaanisha uhai; upendeleo wake ni kama wingu la mvua wakati wa vuli.
16 Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
Ni bora kiasi gani kupata hekima kuliko dhahabu, kuchagua ufahamu kuliko fedha!
17 The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
Njia kuu ya wanyofu huepuka ubaya; yeye aichungaye njia yake, huchunga maisha yake.
18 Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
Kiburi hutangulia maangamizi, roho ya majivuno hutangulia maanguko.
19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.
Ni afadhali kuwa mnyenyekevu katika roho miongoni mwa walioonewa kuliko kugawana nyara pamoja na wenye kiburi.
20 The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
Yeyote anayekubali mafundisho hustawi, tena amebarikiwa yeye anayemtumaini Bwana.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
Wenye hekima moyoni huitwa wenye ufahamu, na maneno ya kupendeza huchochea mafundisho.
22 Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
Ufahamu ni chemchemi ya uzima kwa wale walio nao, bali upumbavu huleta adhabu kwa wapumbavu.
23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.
Moyo wa mtu mwenye hekima huongoza kinywa chake, na midomo yake huchochea mafundisho.
24 Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Maneno ya kupendeza ni kama sega la asali, ni matamu kwa nafsi na uponyaji kwenye mifupa.
25 There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
Iko njia ionekanayo kuwa sawa kwa mtu, bali mwisho wake huelekeza mautini.
26 The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
Shauku ya mfanyakazi humhimiza kufanya kazi; njaa yake humsukuma aendelee.
27 The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
Mtu mbaya kabisa hupanga mabaya, maneno yake ni kama moto uunguzao.
28 A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
Mtu mpotovu huchochea ugomvi, nayo maongezi ya upuzi hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
29 An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
Mtu mkali humvuta jirani yake na kumwongoza katika mapito yale mabaya.
30 He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.
Yeye akonyezaye kwa jicho lake anapanga upotovu; naye akazaye midomo yake amenuia mabaya.
31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
Mvi ni taji ya utukufu; hupatikana kwa maisha ya uadilifu.
32 The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.
Ni afadhali mtu mstahimilivu kuliko shujaa, mtu anayeitawala hasira yake kuliko yule autekaye mji.
33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.
Kura hupigwa kwa siri, lakini kila uamuzi wake hutoka kwa Bwana.
