Proverbs 22
1 A good name is preferable to abundant riches, and good grace, to silver and to 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 them all.
Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
3 The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth 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 The reward of humility [and] the fear of the Lord are riches and honor, and life.
Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
5 Thorns and snares are on the way of a perverse man: he that doth guard his soul will keep far from them.
Katika mapito ya waovu kuna miiba na mitego, bali yeye ailindaye nafsi yake hukaa mbali nayo.
6 Train up the lad in accordance with his course: even when he groweth old, will he not depart from it.
Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea, naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
7 A rich man ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the man that lendeth.
Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
8 He that soweth injustice will reap wrong-doing; and the rod of God's wrath will not fail.
Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu, nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
9 A man of a benevolent eye will indeed be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
10 Drive away the scorner, and strife will go off; and then will cease contention and dishonor.
Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka, na mvutano utatoweka; ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
11 He that loveth with a pure heart, and hath grace on his lips, will have the king as his friend.
Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
12 The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, and he overturneth the words of the treacherous.
Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
13 The slothful saith, There is a lion without, in the midst of the streets shall I be murdered.
Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
14 A deep pit is the mouth of adulterous women: he that hath obtained the indignation of the Lord will fall thereinto.
Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu; yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
15 When folly is bound fast to the heart of a lad, the rod of correction must remove it far from him.
Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, [must at length] give to the rich, and come only to want.
Yeye amwoneaye maskini ili kujiongezea mali, naye ampaye tajiri zawadi, wote huwa maskini.
17 Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy 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 thou keep them within thy bosom, if they be altogether firmly seated upon thy lips.
kwa maana inapendeza unapoyahifadhi moyoni mwako na kuwa nayo yote tayari midomoni mwako.
19 That thy trust may be in the Lord, have I made them known to thee this day, yea, even to thee.
Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
20 Have not I written for thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini, misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
21 That I might make thee know rectitude, the sayings of truth; that thou mightest bring back answers of truth to those that send thee?
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 crush the afflicted in the gate;
Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini, wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
23 For the Lord will plead their cause, and despoil the life of those that despoil them.
kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
24 Make no friendship with a man given to anger; and with a man of fury thou must have no intercourse:
Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare for thy own soul.
la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
26 Be not one of those that pledge their hand, or of those that are sureties for debts.
Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
27 If thou have nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have established.
Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani lililowekwa na baba zako.
29 Seest thou a man that is diligent in his work? before kings may he place himself: let him not place himself before obscure men.
Je, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake? Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme; hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
