Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
Ni bora kuwa na utulivu pamoja chembe za mkate kuliko nyumba yenye sherehe nyingi pamoja na ugomvi.
2 A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
Mtumishi mwenye busara atatawala juu ya mwana atendaye kwa aibu na atashiriki urithi kama mmoja wa ndugu.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuu ni kwa dhahabu, bali Yehova huisafisha mioyo.
4 An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
Mtu atendaye mabaya huwasikiliza wale wanaosema maovu; muongo anausikivu kwa wale wanaosema mambo mabaya.
5 Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
Mwenye kumdhihaki masikini humtukana Muumba wake na anayefurahia msiba hatakosa adhabu.
6 Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
Wajukuu ni taji ya wazee na wazazi huleta heshima kwa watoto wao.
7 A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
Hotuba ya ushawishi haifai kwa mpumbavu; kidogo zaidi midomo ya uongo inafaa kwa ufalme.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
Rushwa ni kama jiwe la kiini macho kwa yule ambaye atoaye; yeye anayeiacha, hufanikiwa.
9 Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
Anayesamehe kosa hutafuta upendo, bali yeye anayerudia jambo huwatenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
10 Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
Karipio hupenya ndani ya mtu mwenye ufahamu kuliko mapigo mamia kwenda kwa mpumbavu.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
Mtu mbaya hutafuta uasi tu, hivyo mjumbe katiri atatumwa dhidi yake.
12 The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
Ni bora kukutana na dubu aliyeporwa watoto wake kuliko kukutana na mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
13 Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
Mtu anaporudisha mabaya badala ya mema, mabaya hayatatoka katika nyumba yake.
14 The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
Mwanzo wa mafarakano ni kama mtu anayefungulia maji kila mahali, hivyo ondoka kwenye mabishano kabla ya kutokea.
15 Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
Yeye ambaye huwaachilia watu waovu au kuwalaumu wale wanaotenda haki - watu hawa wote ni chukizo kwa Yehova.
16 Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
Kwa nini mpumbavu alipe fedha kwa kujifunza hekima, wakati hana uwezo wa kujifunza?
17 The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
Rafiki hupenda kwa nyakati zote na ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya nyakati za taabu.
18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
Mtu asiyekuwa na akili hufanya ahadi zenye mashariti na kuanza kuwajibika kwa madeni ya jirani yake.
19 Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
Apendaye mafarakano anapenda dhambi; ambaye hutengeneza kizingiti kirefu sana kwenye mlango wake husababisha kuvunjia kwa mifupa.
20 The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
Mtu mwenye moyo wa udanganyifu hapati chochote ambacho ni chema; na mwenye ulimi wa ukaidi huanguka kwenye janga.
21 Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
Mzazi wa mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwake mwenyewe; baba wa mpumbavu hana furaha.
22 A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
Moyo mchangamfu ni dawa njema, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
23 The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa ya siri ili kupotosha njia za haki.
24 The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end of the earth.
Mwenye ufahamu huelekeza uso wake kwenye hekima, bali macho ya mpumbavu huelekea ncha za dunia.
25 A foolish son [is] a provocation to his father, And bitterness to her bearing him.
Mwana mpumbavu ni huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa mwanamke aliyemzaa.
26 Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
Pia, si vizuri kumwadhibu mwenye kutenda haki; wala si vema kuwachapa mjeledi watu waadilifu wenye ukamilifu.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
Mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno machache na mwenye ufahamu ni mtulivu.
28 Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
Hata mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na busara kama akikaa kimya; wakati anapokaa amefunga kinywa chake, anafikiriwa kuwa na akili.
