Proverbs 22
1 A [good] name is rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Jina jema huchaguliwa dhidi ya utajiri mwingi na fadhila ni bora kuliko fedha na dhahabu.
2 The rich and the poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
Watu matajiri na masikini wanafanana katika hili - Yehova ni muumba wao wote.
3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
Mtu mwenye hekima huiona taabu na kujificha mwenyewe, bali mjinga huendelea mbele na huumia kwa ajili yake.
4 The reward of humility [and] the fear of the LORD [is] riches, and honour, and life.
Thawabu ya unyenyekevu na kumcha Yehova ni utajiri, heshima na uzima.
5 Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the froward: he that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
Miiba na mitego hulala katika njia ya wakaidi; yeye anayelinda maisha yake atakuwa mbali navyo.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Mfundishe mtoto njia inayompasa na wakati akiwa mzee hatayaacha mafundisho hayo.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Watu matajiri huwatawala watu masikini na mwenye kukopa ni mtumwa wa yule anayekopesha.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity: and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
Yule anayepanda udhalimu atavuna taabu na fimbo ya hasira yake itanyauka.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Mwenye jicho la ukarimu atabarikiwa, maana anashiriki mkate wake pamoja na masikini.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and ignominy shall cease.
Mfukuze mbali mwenye dhihaka, na ugomvi utaondoka, mashindano na matukano yatakoma.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
Anayependa moyo safi na mwenye maneno ya neema, atakuwa rafiki yake mfalme.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve [him that hath] knowledge, but he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
Macho ya Yehova huyaangalia maarifa, bali huyapindua maneno ya wadanganyifu.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be murdered in the streets.
Mtu mvivu husema, “Kuna simba mtaani! Nitauwawa sehemu za njia.”
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
Kinywa cha malaya ni shimo lenye kina kirefu; hasira ya Yehova huchochewa dhidi ya yule anayetumbukia ndani yake.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Upumbavu umefungwa katika moyo wa mtoto, lakini marudi ya fimbo huutoa.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain, and] he that giveth to the rich, [cometh] only to want.
Anayewanyanyasa watu masikini ili kuongeza mali yake, au kuwapa matajiri, atakuwa masikini.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Tega sikio lako na usikilize maneno ya wenye busara na utumia moyo wako katika maarifa yangu,
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
maana itakuwa furaha kwako kama utayaweka ndani yako, kama yote yatakuwa katika midomo yako.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.
Basi tumaini lako liwe kwa Yehova, ninayafundisha kwako leo- hata kwako.
20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;
Sijakuandikia wewe misemo thelathini ya mafundisho na maarifa,
21 To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
kwa kukufundisha kweli katika maneno haya yenye uaminifu, ili uwe na majibu yenye kutegemewa kwa waliokutuma?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Usimwibie masikini kwa sababu ni masikini, au kumponda kwenye lango,
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
maana Yehova ataitetea kesi yao, na atawaibia uzima wale waliowaibia masikini.
24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye kutawaliwa na hasira na wala usiambatane pamoja na mwenye hasira kali,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
au utajifunza njia zake na utakuwa chambo kwa nafsi yako.
26 Be thou not one of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts:
Usiwe miongoni mwao wapigao mikono, mwenye kuahidi madeni.
27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Kama umekosa njia za kulipa, nini kitaweza kuzuia mtu kuchukua kitanda chako chini yako?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Usiondoe jiwe la mpaka la wahenga ambalo baba zako wameweka.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
Je umemwona mtu aliyeuwawa kwenye kazi yake? Atasimama mbele ya wafalme; hatasimama mbele ya watu wa kawaida.
