< Proverbs 14 >
1 Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
Mwanamke mwenye hekima huijenga nyumba yake, bali mpumbavu huibomoa nyumba yake kwa mikono yake mwenyewe.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
Yeye ambaye njia zake ni nyofu humcha Bwana, bali yeye ambaye njia zake zimepotoka humdharau Mungu.
3 The fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them.
Mazungumzo ya mpumbavu huleta fimbo mgongoni mwake, bali mwenye hekima hulindwa na maneno ya midomo yake.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean, but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
Pale ambapo hakuna mafahali, hori ni tupu, bali kutokana na nguvu za fahali huja mavuno mengi.
5 A truthful witness will not lie, but a false witness pours out lies.
Shahidi mwaminifu hadanganyi, bali shahidi wa uongo humimina uongo.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn't find it, but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
Mwenye mzaha huitafuta hekima na haipati, bali maarifa huja kwa urahisi kwa anayepambanua.
7 Stay away from a foolish man, for you won't find knowledge on his lips.
Kaa mbali na mtu mpumbavu, kwa maana hutapata maarifa katika midomo yake.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.
Hekima ya mwenye busara ni kufikiria njia zake, bali upumbavu wa wapumbavu ni udanganyifu.
9 Fools mock at making atonement for sins, but among the upright there is good will.
Wapumbavu hudhihaki kujirekebisha kutoka dhambi, bali wema hupatikana miongoni mwa wanyofu.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness and joy; he will not share these with a stranger.
Kila moyo hujua uchungu wake wenyewe, wala hakuna yeyote awezaye kushiriki furaha yake.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
Nyumba ya mwovu itaangamizwa, bali hema la mnyofu litastawi.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
Iko njia ionekanayo kuwa sawa kwa mtu, bali mwisho wake huelekeza mautini.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful, and mirth may end in heaviness.
Hata katika kicheko moyo waweza kuuma, nayo furaha yaweza kuishia katika majonzi.
14 The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways; likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
Wasio na imani watapatilizwa kikamilifu kwa ajili ya njia zao, naye mtu mwema atapewa thawabu kwa ajili ya njia yake.
15 A simple man believes everything, but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
Mtu mjinga huamini kila kitu, bali mwenye busara hufikiria hatua zake.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but the fool is arrogant and reckless.
Mtu mwenye hekima humcha Bwana na kuepuka mabaya, bali mpumbavu hukasirika kwa hamaki na uzembe.
17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly, and a crafty man is hated.
Mtu anayekasirika kwa haraka hufanya mambo ya upumbavu, naye mtu wa hila huchukiwa.
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
Mjinga hurithi upumbavu, bali wenye busara huvikwa maarifa kichwani kama taji.
19 The evil bow down before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
Watu wabaya watasujudu mbele ya watu wema, nao waovu kwenye malango ya wenye haki.
20 The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbor, but the rich person has many friends.
Maskini huepukwa hata na majirani zao, bali matajiri wana marafiki wengi.
21 He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.
Yeye anayemdharau jirani yake hutenda dhambi, bali amebarikiwa yeye aliye na huruma kwa mhitaji.
22 Do they not go astray who plot evil? But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
Je, wale wanaopanga ubaya hawapotoki? Bali wale wanaopanga kilicho chema hupata upendo na uaminifu.
23 In all hard work there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
Kazi zote zinazofanywa kwa bidii huleta faida, bali mazungumzo matupu huelekea umaskini tu.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
Utajiri wa wenye hekima ni taji yao, bali upumbavu wa wapumbavu huzaa upumbavu.
25 A truthful witness saves souls, but a false witness is deceitful.
Shahidi wa kweli huokoa maisha, bali shahidi wa uongo ni mdanganyifu.
26 In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress, and he will be a refuge for his children.
Yeye amchaye Bwana ana ngome salama, na kwa watoto wake itakuwa kimbilio.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning people from the snares of death.
Kumcha Bwana ni chemchemi ya uzima, ili kumwepusha mtu na mitego ya mauti.
28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory, but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
Wingi wa watu ni utukufu wa mfalme, bali pasipo watu mkuu huangamia.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
Mtu mwenye subira ana ufahamu mwingi, bali anayekasirika haraka huonyesha upumbavu.
30 The life of the body is a heart at peace, but envy rots the bones.
Moyo wenye amani huupa mwili uzima, bali wivu huozesha mifupa.
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.
Yeye amwoneaye maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wao, bali yeyote anayemhurumia mhitaji humheshimu Mungu.
32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity, but the righteous has a refuge in his death.
Waovu huangamizwa kwa matendo yao maovu, bali hata katika kifo wenye haki hupata kimbilio.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding, and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
Hekima hukaa katika moyo wa mwenye ufahamu bali haijulikani miongoni mwa wapumbavu.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
Haki huinua taifa, bali dhambi ni aibu kwa watu wote.
35 The king's favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
Mfalme hupendezwa na mtumishi mwenye hekima, bali ghadhabu yake humwangukia mtumishi mwenye kuaibisha.