Proverbs 22
1 A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Heri kuchagua jina jema kuliko utajiri mwingi, kuheshimiwa ni bora kuliko fedha au dhahabu.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
3 A prudent man forsees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele kama kipofu nayo ikamtesa.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: he that does keep his soul shall be far from them.
Katika mapito ya waovu kuna miiba na mitego, bali yeye ailindaye nafsi yake hukaa mbali nayo.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea, naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
8 He that sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu, nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
9 He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.
Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka, na mvutano utatoweka; ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.
Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
13 The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu; yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
16 He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to lack.
Yeye amwoneaye maskini ili kujiongezea mali, naye ampaye tajiri zawadi, wote huwa maskini.
17 Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.
Tega sikio na usikie misemo ya wenye hekima, elekeza moyo wako kwenye yale nifundishayo,
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; they shall likewise be fitted in your lips.
kwa maana inapendeza unapoyahifadhi moyoni mwako na kuwa nayo yote tayari midomoni mwako.
19 That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
20 Have not I written to you excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini, misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
21 That I might make you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto you?
kukufundisha maneno ya kweli na ya kuaminika, ili uweze kutoa majibu sahihi kwake yeye aliyekutuma?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini, wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:
Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
25 Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.
la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
26 Be not you one of them that shake hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
27 If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.
Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani lililowekwa na baba zako.
29 See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Je, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake? Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme; hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
