Proverbs 20
1 Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
2 The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be angry is wronging his soul.
Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
3 Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, And every fool interferes.
Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi, bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
4 The slothful does not plow because of winter, He asks in harvest, and there is nothing.
Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draws it up.
Makusudi ya moyo wa mwanadamu ni maji yenye kina, lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu huyachota.
6 A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness, And a man of steadfastness who finds?
Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma, bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
7 The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, O the blessedness of his sons after him!
Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
8 A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering all evil with his eyes,
Wakati mfalme aketipo katika kiti chake cha enzi kuhukumu, hupepeta ubaya wote kwa macho yake.
9 Who says, “I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?”
Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi; mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
10 A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to YHWH.
Mawe ya kupimia yaliyo tofauti na vipimo tofauti, Bwana huchukia vyote viwili.
11 Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, Whether his work is pure or upright.
Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
12 A hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made both of them.
Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo, Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
13 Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, Open your eyes—be satisfied [with] bread.
Usiupende usingizi la sivyo utakuwa maskini, uwe macho nawe utakuwa na chakula cha akiba.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, And then he boasts himself going his way.
“Haifai, haifai!” asema mnunuzi, kisha huondoka akijisifia ununuzi wake.
15 Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi, lakini midomo inenayo maarifa ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
16 When a stranger has been guarantor, take his garment, And pledge it for strangers.
Chukua vazi la yule awekaye dhamana kwa ajili ya mgeni; lishikilie iwe dhamana kama anafanya hivyo kwa ajili ya mwanamke mpotovu.
17 The bread of falsehood [is] sweet to a man, And afterward his mouth is filled [with] gravel.
Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
18 You establish purposes by counsel, And with plans you make war.
Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri, ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
19 The busybody is a revealer of secret counsels, And do not make yourself guarantor for a deceiver [with] his lips.
Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
20 Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.
Ikiwa mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itazimwa katika giza nene.
21 An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni, hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
22 Do not say, “I repay evil,” Wait for YHWH, and He delivers you.
Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
23 A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
Bwana anachukia sana mawe ya kupimia ya udanganyifu, nazo mizani zisizo halali hazimpendezi.
24 The steps of a man [are] from YHWH, And man—how does he understand his way?
Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana. Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
25 A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, And to make inquiry after vows.
Ni mtego kwa mtu kuweka wakfu kitu kwa haraka na baada ya kitambo kidogo kufikiria tena nadhiri zake.
26 A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turns the wheel back on them.
Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
27 The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
28 Kindness and truth keep a king, And he has supported his throne by kindness.
Upendo na uaminifu humweka mfalme salama, kwa njia ya upendo, kiti chake cha enzi huwa salama.
29 The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is grey hairs.
Utukufu wa vijana ni nguvu zao, mvi ni fahari ya uzee.
30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil, Also the scourges of the inner parts of the heart!
Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
