Proverbs 18
1 Selfish people only please themselves, they attack anything that makes good sense.
Mtu ajitengaye na wengine hufuata matakwa yake mwenyewe; hupiga vita kila shauri jema.
2 Stupid people have no interest in trying to understand, they only want to express their opinions.
Mpumbavu hafurahii ufahamu, bali hufurahia kutangaza maoni yake mwenyewe.
3 With wickedness comes contempt; with dishonor comes disgrace.
Wakati uovu unapokuja, dharau huja pia, pamoja na aibu huja lawama.
4 People's words can be profound like deep waters, a gushing stream that is the source of wisdom.
Maneno ya kinywa cha mwanadamu ni kina cha maji, bali chemchemi ya hekima ni kijito kinachobubujika.
5 It's not right to show favoritism to the guilty and rob the innocent of justice.
Sio vizuri kumpendelea mtu mwovu, au kumnyima haki asiye na hatia.
6 What stupid people say gets them into fights, as if they're asking for a beating.
Midomo ya mpumbavu humletea ugomvi na kinywa chake hualika kipigo.
7 Stupid people are caught out by what they say; their own words trap them.
Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na midomo yake ni mtego kwa nafsi yake.
8 Listening to gossip is like gulping down bites of your favorite food—they go deep down inside you.
Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu; huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.
9 Laziness and destruction are brothers.
Mtu aliye mlegevu katika kazi yake ni ndugu na yule anayeharibu.
10 The Lord is a protective tower that good people can run to and be safe.
Jina la Bwana ni ngome imara, wenye haki huikimbilia na kuwa salama.
11 Rich people see their wealth as a fortified town—it's like a high wall in their imagination.
Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake wenye ngome, wanaudhania kuwa ukuta usioweza kurukwa.
12 Pride leads to destruction; humility goes before honor.
Kabla ya anguko moyo wa mtu hujaa kiburi, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia heshima.
13 Replying before hearing is stupidity and shame.
Yeye ajibuye kabla ya kusikiliza, huo ni upumbavu wake na aibu yake.
14 With a brave spirit you can put up with sickness, but if it's crushed, you can't bear it.
Roho ya mtu itastahimili katika ugonjwa bali roho iliyovunjika ni nani awezaye kuistahimili?
15 An intelligent mind acquires knowledge; the wise are ready to hear knowledge.
Moyo wa mwenye ufahamu hujipatia maarifa, masikio ya mwenye hekima huyatafuta maarifa.
16 A gift opens doors for you, and gets you into the presence of important people.
Zawadi humfungulia njia mtoaji, nayo humleta mbele ya wakuu.
17 The first person to plead a case sounds right until someone comes to cross-examine them.
Yeye aliye wa kwanza kuleta mashtaka huonekana sahihi, hadi mwingine ajitokezapo na kumuuliza maswali.
18 Casting lots can end disputes and decide between powerful people.
Kupiga kura hukomesha mashindano na kutenganisha wapinzani wakuu wanaopingana.
19 A brother you've offended is harder to win back than a fortified town. Arguments keep people apart like bars on the doors of a fortress.
Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kuridhika kuliko mji uliozungushiwa ngome, nayo mabishano ni kama malango ya ngome yenye makomeo.
20 Make sure you're satisfied with what you say—you have to live with your words.
Tumbo la mtu litajaa kutokana na tunda la kinywa chake, atashibishwa mavuno yanayotokana na midomo yake.
21 What you say has the power to bring life or to kill; those who love talking will have to deal with the consequences.
Mauti na uzima viko katika uwezo wa ulimi, nao waupendao watakula matunda yake.
22 If you find a wife, that's great, and you'll be blessed by the Lord.
Apataye mke apata kitu chema naye ajipatia kibali kwa Bwana.
23 The poor beg for mercy, but the rich reply harshly.
Mtu maskini huomba kuhurumiwa bali tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
24 Some friends give up on you, but there's a friend who stays closer to you than a brother.
Mtu mwenye marafiki wengi wanaweza kumharibu, bali yuko rafiki aambatanaye na mtu kwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
