Proverbs 22
1 More choice, is a name, than great riches, beyond silver and gold, is pleasant grace.
Jina jema huchaguliwa dhidi ya utajiri mwingi na fadhila ni bora kuliko fedha na dhahabu.
2 The rich and the poor, meet together, the maker of them all, is Yahweh.
Watu matajiri na masikini wanafanana katika hili - Yehova ni muumba wao wote.
3 A prudent man, seeth calamity, and hideth himself, but, the simple, pass on, and suffer.
Mtu mwenye hekima huiona taabu na kujificha mwenyewe, bali mjinga huendelea mbele na huumia kwa ajili yake.
4 The reward of humility, is the reverence of Yahweh, 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 perverse, —he that guardeth 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 youth, in the direction of his duty, even when he becometh old, he will not depart from it.
Mfundishe mtoto njia inayompasa na wakati akiwa mzee hatayaacha mafundisho hayo.
7 The rich, over the poor, beareth rule, —and, slave, is the borrower to the lender.
Watu matajiri huwatawala watu masikini na mwenye kukopa ni mtumwa wa yule anayekopesha.
8 He that soweth perversity, shall reap trouble, and, the rod of his wrath, shall be ready.
Yule anayepanda udhalimu atavuna taabu na fimbo ya hasira yake itanyauka.
9 A benevolent eye, the same, shall be blessed, —because he hath given of his bread to the poor.
Mwenye jicho la ukarimu atabarikiwa, maana anashiriki mkate wake pamoja na masikini.
10 Drive away the scoffer, that strife may depart, and quarrel, and contempt may cease.
Mfukuze mbali mwenye dhihaka, na ugomvi utaondoka, mashindano na matukano yatakoma.
11 Yahweh loveth the pure in heart, gracious are his lips, his friend is the king!
Anayependa moyo safi na mwenye maneno ya neema, atakuwa rafiki yake mfalme.
12 The eyes of Yahweh, watch over knowledge, therefore hath he overturned the words of the treacherous.
Macho ya Yehova huyaangalia maarifa, bali huyapindua maneno ya wadanganyifu.
13 Saith the sluggard, A lion outside! Amidst the broadways, shall I be slain.
Mtu mvivu husema, “Kuna simba mtaani! Nitauwawa sehemu za njia.”
14 A deep chasm, is the mouth of strange women, he with whom Yahweh is indignant, falleth there.
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 youth, 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 make increase for himself, giving to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Anayewanyanyasa watu masikini ili kuongeza mali yake, au kuwapa matajiri, atakuwa masikini.
17 Incline thine ear and hear the words of wise men, then, thy heart, wilt thou apply to my teaching;
Tega sikio lako na usikilize maneno ya wenye busara na utumia moyo wako katika maarifa yangu,
18 For sweet shall they be, when thou shalt keep them in thine inmost mind, they shall fit well together, upon thy lips.
maana itakuwa furaha kwako kama utayaweka ndani yako, kama yote yatakuwa katika midomo yako.
19 That in Yahweh may be thy trust, I have made them known to thee to-day, even to thee.
Basi tumaini lako liwe kwa Yehova, ninayafundisha kwako leo- hata kwako.
20 Have I not written for thee noble things, with counsels and knowledge:
Sijakuandikia wewe misemo thelathini ya mafundisho na maarifa,
21 To cause thee to know the meaning of faithful sayings, that thou mayest give back faithful sayings to them who ask thee.
kwa kukufundisha kweli katika maneno haya yenye uaminifu, ili uwe na majibu yenye kutegemewa kwa waliokutuma?
22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor, neither crush thou the oppressed in the gate;
Usimwibie masikini kwa sababu ni masikini, au kumponda kwenye lango,
23 For, Yahweh, will plead their cause, and will despoil their despoilers of life.
maana Yehova ataitetea kesi yao, na atawaibia uzima wale waliowaibia masikini.
24 Do not have friendship with one given to anger, and, with a wrathful man, shall thou not enter in:
Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye kutawaliwa na hasira na wala usiambatane pamoja na mwenye hasira kali,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and take a snare to thy soul.
au utajifunza njia zake na utakuwa chambo kwa nafsi yako.
26 Be not of them who strike hands, of them who are sureties for debts:
Usiwe miongoni mwao wapigao mikono, mwenye kuahidi madeni.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should one take away thy bed from under thee?
Kama umekosa njia za kulipa, nini kitaweza kuzuia mtu kuchukua kitanda chako chini yako?
28 Do not move back the ancient boundary, which thy father’s made.
Usiondoe jiwe la mpaka la wahenga ambalo baba zako wameweka.
29 Seest thou a man prompt in his business? before kings, shall he stand, he shall not stand before men who are obscure.
Je umemwona mtu aliyeuwawa kwenye kazi yake? Atasimama mbele ya wafalme; hatasimama mbele ya watu wa kawaida.
