Proverbs 17
1 Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
Ni bora kuwa na utulivu pamoja chembe za mkate kuliko nyumba yenye sherehe nyingi pamoja na ugomvi.
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 busara atatawala juu ya mwana atendaye kwa aibu na atashiriki urithi kama mmoja wa ndugu.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuu ni kwa dhahabu, bali Yehova huisafisha mioyo.
4 An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
Mtu atendaye mabaya huwasikiliza wale wanaosema maovu; muongo anausikivu kwa wale wanaosema mambo mabaya.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
Mwenye kumdhihaki masikini humtukana Muumba wake na anayefurahia msiba hatakosa adhabu.
6 The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
Wajukuu ni taji ya wazee na wazazi huleta heshima kwa watoto wao.
7 High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
Hotuba ya ushawishi haifai kwa mpumbavu; kidogo zaidi midomo ya uongo inafaa kwa ufalme.
8 As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Rushwa ni kama jiwe la kiini macho kwa yule ambaye atoaye; yeye anayeiacha, hufanikiwa.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
Anayesamehe kosa hutafuta upendo, bali yeye anayerudia jambo huwatenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
10 A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Karipio hupenya ndani ya mtu mwenye ufahamu kuliko mapigo mamia kwenda kwa mpumbavu.
11 Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
Mtu mbaya hutafuta uasi tu, hivyo mjumbe katiri atatumwa dhidi yake.
12 A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
Ni bora kukutana na dubu aliyeporwa watoto wake kuliko kukutana na mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
13 Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
Mtu anaporudisha mabaya badala ya mema, mabaya hayatatoka 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.
Mwanzo wa mafarakano ni kama mtu anayefungulia maji kila mahali, hivyo ondoka kwenye mabishano kabla ya kutokea.
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 ambaye huwaachilia watu waovu au kuwalaumu wale wanaotenda haki - watu hawa wote ni chukizo kwa Yehova.
16 Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
Kwa nini mpumbavu alipe fedha kwa kujifunza hekima, wakati hana uwezo wa kujifunza?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
Rafiki hupenda kwa nyakati zote na ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya nyakati za taabu.
18 A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
Mtu asiyekuwa na akili hufanya ahadi zenye mashariti na kuanza kuwajibika kwa madeni ya jirani yake.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
Apendaye mafarakano anapenda dhambi; ambaye hutengeneza kizingiti kirefu sana kwenye mlango wake husababisha kuvunjia kwa mifupa.
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 wa udanganyifu hapati chochote ambacho ni chema; na mwenye ulimi wa ukaidi huanguka kwenye janga.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
Mzazi wa mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwake mwenyewe; baba wa mpumbavu hana furaha.
22 A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
Moyo mchangamfu ni dawa njema, 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 ya siri ili kupotosha njia za haki.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
Mwenye ufahamu huelekeza uso wake kwenye hekima, bali macho ya mpumbavu huelekea ncha za dunia.
25 A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
Mwana mpumbavu ni huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa mwanamke aliyemzaa.
26 To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
Pia, si vizuri kumwadhibu mwenye kutenda haki; wala si vema kuwachapa mjeledi watu waadilifu wenye ukamilifu.
27 He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
Mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno machache na mwenye ufahamu ni mtulivu.
28 Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Hata mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na busara kama akikaa kimya; wakati anapokaa amefunga kinywa chake, anafikiriwa kuwa na akili.
