< Proverbs 18 >
1 He that separateth himself [from God] seeketh his own desires: at every sound wisdom is he enraged.
Mũndũ ũrĩa ũtendaga gũtũũrania na andũ arũmagĩrĩra o merirĩria make; ningĩ areganaga na matua mothe ma ũũgĩ ũrĩa mũkinyanĩru.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but in laying open what is in his heart.
Mũndũ mũkĩĩgu ndakenagĩra ũtaũku, no akenagĩra kwaria woni wake mwene.
3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with dishonorable acts, disgrace.
Rĩrĩa waganu woka, ũrehaga ũirano, nacio njono irehaga thoni.
4 Like deep waters are the words of a [wise] man's mouth, and a bubbling brook is the well-spring of wisdom.
Ciugo cia kanua ka mũndũ nĩ ta ndia ndiku, no gĩthima kĩa ũũgĩ nĩ karũũĩ gatherũkaga.
5 It is not good to favor the person of the wicked, to wrest [the cause of the] righteous in judgment.
Ti wega gũtĩĩra andũ arĩa aaganu maũthĩ, kana kuogomia kĩhooto kĩa arĩa matehĩtie.
6 The lips of the fool come with contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.
Mĩromo ya mũndũ mũkĩĩgu ĩmũrehagĩra ngũĩ, nako kanua gake geetagia rũthanju.
7 The mouth of the fool is a destruction to himself, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Kanua ka mũndũ mũkĩĩgu nĩko kamũthũkagĩria maũndũ, nayo mĩromo yake nĩ mũtego wa ngoro yake.
8 The words of a whisperer are as wounds, and they go down indeed into the innermost parts of the body.
Ndeto cia mũndũ wa mũhuhu nĩ ta twenyũ twega twa irio; tũmerũkaga nginya tũturi-inĩ twa nda tũrĩa tũrĩ thĩinĩ mũno.
9 He also that showeth himself slothful in his work is a brother to the destroyer.
Mũndũ kĩgũũta wĩra-inĩ wake nĩ wa nyina na ũrĩa wanangaga.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower, whereunto the righteous runneth, and is placed in safety.
Rĩĩtwa rĩa Jehova nĩ mũthiringo ũrĩ hinya; arĩa athingu moragĩra ho, nao magaikara marĩ agitĩre.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong town, and as a towering wall in his own conceit.
Ũtonga wa andũ arĩa atongu nĩguo itũũra rĩao rĩa hinya; meciiragia nĩ rũthingo rũtangĩhaicĩka.
12 Before downfall the heart of man becometh haughty, and before honor goeth humility.
Mbere ya mwanangĩko, ngoro ya mũndũ ĩkoragwo na mwĩtĩĩo, no kwĩnyiihia nĩkuo gũtongoragia gĩtĩĩo.
13 When one returneth an answer before he understandeth [the question], it is folly unto him and shame.
Mũndũ ũrĩa ũcookagia ũhoro mbere ya kũũthikĩrĩria, ũndũ ũcio nĩ ũrimũ na thoni ciake.
14 The spirit of a man will readily bear his disease; but a depressed spirit who can bear:
Roho wa mũndũ nĩguo ũmũũmagĩrĩria rĩrĩa arĩ mũrũaru, no roho mũthuthĩku nũũ ũngĩhota kũwĩtiiria?
15 The heart of the man of understanding will obtain knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Ngoro ya mũndũ mũkũũrani maũndũ nĩĩgĩagĩra ũmenyo; matũ ma arĩa oogĩ nĩmaũcaragĩrĩria.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and before great men will it lead him.
Kĩheo mũndũ aheanĩte kĩmuonagia njĩra ya kũhĩtũkĩra, gĩkamũkinyia harĩ andũ arĩa anene.
17 He that is first in his cause seemeth just; but when his neighbor cometh, then will it be investigated.
Mũndũ ũrĩa ũrehaga ciira wake mbere onekaga taarĩ we na ma, o nginya rĩrĩa mũndũ ũrĩa maraciira nake ooka kũmũũria ciũria.
18 The lot causeth disputes to cease, and it decideth between the mighty.
Ũcuuki wa mĩtĩ nĩũniinaga ngarari, na ũgateithũrana andũ eerĩ njamba.
19 A brother offended is harder [to be won] than a strong town; and quarrels [among brothers] are like the bars of a castle.
Mũndũ mũrakarie nĩ mũrũ wa nyina nĩ hinya kwĩiguithania nake gũkĩra kwĩgwatĩra itũũra inene rĩirigĩre, nacio ngarari nĩ ta mĩgĩĩko ĩrĩa ĩhingaga njeera.
20 From the fruit of a man's mouth is his body satisfied; with the product of his lips doth he satisfy himself.
Nda ya mũndũ nĩĩhũũnagio nĩ maciaro ma kanua gake; nĩaiganagwo nĩ magetha ma mĩromo yake.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it will eat its fruit.
Rũrĩmĩ rũrĩ na hinya wa gwathĩrĩra mũndũ muoyo kana gĩkuũ, no arĩa marwendete no marĩĩage maciaro maaruo.
22 Whoso hath found a wife hath found happiness, and hath obtained favor from the Lord.
Mũndũ ũrĩa wĩgĩĩagĩra na mũtumia nĩegĩagĩra na kĩndũ kĩega, na nĩgũtugwo atugĩtwo nĩ Jehova.
23 The poor speaketh entreatingly; but the rich answereth roughly.
Mũndũ mũthĩĩni athaithanaga aiguĩrwo tha, no gĩtonga gĩcookagia ũhoro na ũũru.
24 A man's many companions are hurtful to him; but there is many a friend that cleaveth closer than a brother.
Mũndũ mũceeri na andũ aingĩ aahota kwĩyũnũhithia, no nĩ kũrĩ mũrata ũnyiitanaga na mũndũ gũkĩra mũrũ wa nyina na mũndũ.