Proverbs 17
1 Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
Afadhali kula ukoko mkavu ukiwa na amani na utulivu kuliko kukaa kwenye nyumba ya karamu kukiwa na magomvi.
2 An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
Mtumishi mwenye hekima atatawala juu ya mwana aaibishaye, naye atashirikiana katika urithi kama mmoja wa hao ndugu.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
Kalibu ni kwa ajili ya fedha na tanuru ni kwa ajili ya dhahabu, bali Bwana huujaribu moyo.
4 An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
Mtu mwovu husikiliza midomo mibaya; mwongo husikiliza kwa makini ulimi wa madhara.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
Yeye anaye mdhihaki maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wake; yeyote afurahiaye maafa hataepuka kuadhibiwa.
6 The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
Wana wa wana ni taji la wazee, nao wazazi ni fahari ya watoto wao.
7 High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
Midomo yenye uwezo wa ushawishi haimfai mpumbavu: je, ni mibaya kiasi gani zaidi midomo ya uongo kwa mtawala!
8 As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Kipawa ni kama kito cha thamani machoni pake yeye aliye nacho; kokote kigeukiapo, hufanikiwa.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
Yeye anayesamehe kosa hudumisha upendo, bali yeyote arudiaye jambo hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
10 A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Karipio humwingia sana mtu mwenye kutambua kuliko mapigo mia kwa mpumbavu.
11 Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
Mtu mbaya hupenda kuasi tu; mjumbe asiye na huruma atatumwa dhidi yake.
12 A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
Ni afadhali ukutane na dubu aliyenyangʼanywa watoto wake, kuliko mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
13 Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
Ikiwa mtu atalipa baya kwa jema, kamwe ubaya hautaondoka katika nyumba yake.
14 As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
Kuanzisha ugomvi ni kama kutoboa bwawa la maji; kwa hiyo acha jambo hilo kabla mabishano hayajaanza.
15 He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
Yeye asemaye kuwa asiye na haki ana haki, naye asemaye kuwa mwenye haki hana haki: Bwana huwachukia sana wote wawili.
16 Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
Fedha ina faida gani mikononi mwa mpumbavu, wakati yeye hana haja ya kupata hekima?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
Rafiki hupenda wakati wote naye ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya wakati wa shida.
18 A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
Mtu mjinga hupana mkono ili kuweka rehani, naye huweka dhamana kwa jirani yake.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
Yeye apendaye ugomvi apenda dhambi; naye ainuaye sana lango lake hutafuta uharibifu.
20 He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
Mtu mwenye moyo mpotovu hawezi kufanikiwa; naye ambaye ulimi wake ni mdanganyifu huanguka kwenye taabu.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
Kuwa na mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni; hakuna furaha kwa baba wa mpumbavu.
22 A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
Moyo wenye furaha ni dawa nzuri, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
23 A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa kwa siri ili kupotosha njia ya haki.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
Mtu wa ufahamu huitazama hekima, lakini macho ya mpumbavu huhangaika hadi kwenye miisho ya dunia.
25 A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
Mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa yeye aliyemzaa.
26 To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
Si vizuri kumwadhibu mtu asiye na hatia, au kuwapiga sana maafisa kwa ajili ya uadilifu wao.
27 He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
Mtu mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno kwa kujizuia, naye mtu mwenye ufahamu ana moyo wa utulivu.
28 Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Hata mtu mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na hekima kama akinyamaza, na mwenye ufahamu kama akiuzuia ulimi wake.
