Proverbs 21
1 The Lord directs the king's decisions like a stream of water that he sends whichever way he wants.
Moyo wa mfalme uko katika mkono wa Bwana; huuongoza kama mkondo wa maji, popote apendapo.
2 People think that whatever they do is fine, but the Lord looks at their motives.
Njia zote za mwanadamu huonekana sawa kwake, bali Bwana huupima moyo.
3 Doing what's right and fair pleases the Lord more than sacrifices.
Kufanya yaliyo sawa na haki inakubalika zaidi kwa Bwana kuliko dhabihu.
4 Pride and arrogance are the sins the wicked live by.
Macho ya kudharau na moyo wa kiburi, ambavyo ni taa ya waovu, vyote ni dhambi!
5 Those who plan ahead and work hard will have plenty, while those who act rashly end up poor.
Mipango ya mwenye bidii huelekeza kwenye faida, kama vile kwa hakika pupa huelekeza kwenye umaskini.
6 Money made by lies is like smoke in the wind—a chase that ends in death.
Mali iliyopatikana kwa ulimi wa uongo ni mvuke upitao upesi na mtego wa kufisha.
7 The destruction caused by the wicked will destroy them, for they refuse to do what's right.
Jeuri ya waovu itawaburuta mbali, kwa kuwa wanakataa kufanya yaliyo sawa.
8 Guilty people live crooked lives, but the innocent follow straight paths.
Njia ya mwenye hatia ni ya upotovu, bali tabia ya mtu asiye na hatia ni nyofu.
9 It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
Ni afadhali kuishi pembeni mwa paa la nyumba, kuliko kuishi nyumba moja na mke mgomvi.
10 Evil people love to do wrong, they don't care what pain they cause anyone.
Mtu mwovu hutamani sana ubaya, jirani yake hapati huruma kutoka kwake.
11 When a mocker is punished, an immature person can learn wisdom. When the wise are educated, they gain knowledge.
Wakati mwenye mzaha ameadhibiwa, mjinga hupata hekima; wakati mtu mwenye hekima afundishwapo, hupata maarifa.
12 The God of justice sees what happens in the homes of the wicked, and brings the wicked down in disaster.
Mwenye Haki huyajua yanayotendeka katika nyumba za waovu, naye atawaangamiza waovu.
13 If you refuse to hear the cries of the poor, your cries won't be heard either.
Mtu akiziba masikio asisikie kilio cha maskini, yeye pia atalia, wala hatajibiwa.
14 A gift given in secret calms down anger, and a hidden bribe soothes furious rage.
Zawadi itolewayo kwa siri hutuliza hasira na rushwa iliyofichwa kwenye nguo hutuliza ghadhabu kali.
15 When justice is done, the good are happy, but it brings terror to those who do evil.
Wakati haki imetendeka, huleta furaha kwa wenye haki, bali kitisho kwa watenda mabaya.
16 Anyone who wanders away from the path of understanding ends up with the dead.
Mtu anayepotea kutoka mapito ya ufahamu, hupumzika katika kundi la waliokufa.
17 If you love pleasure you'll become poor; if you love wine and olive oil you won't ever be rich.
Mtu apendaye anasa atakuwa maskini, yeyote apendaye mvinyo na mafuta kamwe hatakuwa tajiri.
18 The wicked pay the price and not the good; those who are deceitful and not those who live right.
Waovu huwa fidia kwa ajili ya wenye haki, nao wasio waaminifu kwa ajili ya wanyofu.
19 It's better to live in a desert than with an argumentative and bad-tempered wife.
Ni afadhali kuishi jangwani kuliko kuishi na mke mgomvi na mkorofi.
20 The wise hold on to their wealth and olive oil, but stupid people use up everything they have.
Katika nyumba ya mwenye hekima kuna akiba ya vyakula vizuri na mafuta, lakini mtu mpumbavu hutafuna vyote alivyo navyo.
21 If you pursue goodness and trustworthy love, you'll find life, prosperity, and honor.
Yeye afuatiaye haki na upendo hupata uzima, mafanikio na heshima.
22 The wise can overcome a city belonging to strong warriors, and tear down the fortress they trusted to protect them.
Mtu mwenye hekima huushambulia mji wa wenye nguvu, na kuangusha ngome wanazozitegemea.
23 If you watch what you say, you can save yourself a lot of trouble.
Yeye alindaye kinywa chake na ulimi wake hujilinda na maafa.
24 A proud, conceited, mocker—that's the name of those who act with insolent arrogance.
Mtu mwenye kiburi na majivuno, “Mdhihaki” ndilo jina lake; hutenda mambo kwa kiburi kilichozidi.
25 Slackers die hungry because they refuse to work.
Kutamani sana kwa mvivu kutakuwa kifo chake, kwa sababu mikono yake haitaki kufanya kazi.
26 Some people only want more and more all the time, but the good give generously.
Mchana kutwa hutamani zaidi, lakini mnyofu hutoa pasipo kuzuia.
27 The sacrifices given by the wicked are obnoxious, worse still when they're offered with evil motives.
Dhabihu ya mtu mwovu ni chukizo, si zaidi sana itolewapo kwa nia mbaya!
28 The lies of a false witness vanish away, but the words of a reliable witness will stand.
Shahidi wa uongo ataangamia, bali maneno ya mwenye kusikia yatadumu.
29 The wicked act as bold as brass, but those who live right consider carefully what they're doing.
Mtu mwovu ana uso wa ushupavu, bali mtu mnyofu huzifikiria njia zake.
30 Whatever wisdom, understanding, or guidance you may have is nothing before the Lord.
Hakuna hekima, wala akili, wala mpango unaoweza kufaulu dhidi ya Bwana.
31 You can get your horse ready for battle, but the victory is the Lord's.
Farasi huandaliwa kwa ajili ya siku ya vita, bali ushindi huwa kwa Bwana.
