Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
Afadhali kula ukoko mkavu ukiwa na amani na utulivu kuliko kukaa kwenye nyumba ya karamu kukiwa na magomvi.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Mtumishi mwenye hekima atatawala juu ya mwana aaibishaye, naye atashirikiana katika urithi kama mmoja wa hao ndugu.
3 The fining-pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Kalibu ni kwa ajili ya fedha na tanuru ni kwa ajili ya dhahabu, bali Bwana huujaribu moyo.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips: [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Mtu mwovu husikiliza midomo mibaya; mwongo husikiliza kwa makini ulimi wa madhara.
5 He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Yeye anaye mdhihaki maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wake; yeyote afurahiaye maafa hataepuka kuadhibiwa.
6 Children's children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [is] their fathers.
Wana wa wana ni taji la wazee, nao wazazi ni fahari ya watoto wao.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Midomo yenye uwezo wa ushawishi haimfai mpumbavu: je, ni mibaya kiasi gani zaidi midomo ya uongo kwa mtawala!
8 A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Kipawa ni kama kito cha thamani machoni pake yeye aliye nacho; kokote kigeukiapo, hufanikiwa.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
Yeye anayesamehe kosa hudumisha upendo, bali yeyote arudiaye jambo hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Karipio humwingia sana mtu mwenye kutambua kuliko mapigo mia kwa mpumbavu.
11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Mtu mbaya hupenda kuasi tu; mjumbe asiye na huruma atatumwa dhidi yake.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Ni afadhali ukutane na dubu aliyenyangʼanywa watoto wake, kuliko mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
13 Whoever rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Ikiwa mtu atalipa baya kwa jema, kamwe ubaya hautaondoka katika nyumba yake.
14 The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
Kuanzisha ugomvi ni kama kutoboa bwawa la maji; kwa hiyo acha jambo hilo kabla mabishano hayajaanza.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
Yeye asemaye kuwa asiye na haki ana haki, naye asemaye kuwa mwenye haki hana haki: Bwana huwachukia sana wote wawili.
16 Why [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
Fedha ina faida gani mikononi mwa mpumbavu, wakati yeye hana haja ya kupata hekima?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Rafiki hupenda wakati wote naye ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya wakati wa shida.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Mtu mjinga hupana mkono ili kuweka rehani, naye huweka dhamana kwa jirani yake.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Yeye apendaye ugomvi apenda dhambi; naye ainuaye sana lango lake hutafuta uharibifu.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Mtu mwenye moyo mpotovu hawezi kufanikiwa; naye ambaye ulimi wake ni mdanganyifu huanguka kwenye taabu.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Kuwa na mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni; hakuna furaha kwa baba wa mpumbavu.
22 A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Moyo wenye furaha ni dawa nzuri, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa kwa siri ili kupotosha njia ya haki.
24 Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
Mtu wa ufahamu huitazama hekima, lakini macho ya mpumbavu huhangaika hadi kwenye miisho ya dunia.
25 A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
Mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa yeye aliyemzaa.
26 Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
Si vizuri kumwadhibu mtu asiye na hatia, au kuwapiga sana maafisa kwa ajili ya uadilifu wao.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Mtu mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno kwa kujizuia, naye mtu mwenye ufahamu ana moyo wa utulivu.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Hata mtu mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na hekima kama akinyamaza, na mwenye ufahamu kama akiuzuia ulimi wake.
