Proverbs 18
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh [and] intermeddleth with all wisdom.
Yule ambaye hujitenga hutafuta matakwa yake mwenyewe na hupingana na hukumu zote za kweli.
2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may reveal itself.
Mpumbavu hapati raha katika ufahamu, lakini hufunua kile kilichopo katika moyo wake.
3 When the wicked cometh, [then] cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
Mtu mwovu anapokuja, dharau huja pamoja naye- sambamba na aibu na shutuma.
4 The words of a man's mouth [are as] deep waters, [and] the well-spring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook.
Maneno ya kinywa cha mtu ni maji yenye kina kirefu; chemchemi ya hekima ni mkondo unaotiririka.
5 [It is] not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
Si vema kuwa na upendeleo kwa mwovu, wala haifai kukana haki kwa wale watendao mema.
6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
Midomo ya mpumbavu huletea mafarakano na kinywa chake hukaribisha mapigo.
7 A fool's mouth [is] his destruction, and his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na hujinasa mwenye kwa midomo yake.
8 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Maneno ya mmbea ni kama chembe tamu na hushuka katika sehema za ndani sana kwenye mwili.
9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
Basi, ambaye ni mzembe katika kazi yake ni ndugu yake anayeharibu wengi.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
Jina la Yehova ni mnara imara; atendaye haki hukimbilia na kuwa salama.
11 The rich man's wealth [is] his strong city, and as a high wall in his own conceit.
Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake imara na katika fikira zake ni kama ukuta mrefu.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor [is] humility.
Moyo wa mtu huwa na kiburi kabla ya anguko lake, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia kabla ya heshima.
13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth [it], it [is] folly and shame to him.
Anayejibu kabla ya kusikiliza- ni upuuzi na aibu yake.
14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
Roho ya mtu itajinusuru na madhara, bali roho iliyopondeka nani anaweza kuivumilia?
15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Moyo wa mwenye akili hujipatia maarifa na usikivu wa mwenye busara huitafuta.
16 A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Zawadi ya mtu inaweza kufungua njia na kumleta mbele ya mtu muhimu.
17 [He that is] first in his own cause [seemeth] just; but his neighbor cometh and searcheth him.
Wa kwanza kujitetea katika shitaka lake huonekana kuwa na haki hadi mpinzani wake aje na kumuuliza maswali.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
Kupiga kura kunamaliza mabishano na kuwatawanya wapinzani imara.
19 A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city: and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a castle.
Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kushawishiwa kuliko mji wenye nguvu, na kugombana ni kama makomeo ya ngome.
20 A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; [and] with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
Tumbo la mtu litashiba kutoka kwenye tunda la kinywa chake; atatoshelezwa kwa mavuno ya midomo yake.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.
Uzima na kifo hutawaliwa kwa ulimi, na wale wenye kuupenda ulimi watakula tunda lake.
22 [Whoever] findeth a wife findeth a good [thing], and obtaineth favor from the LORD.
Yeye apataye mke anapata kitu chema na kupokea fadhila kutoka kwa Yehova.
23 The poor useth entreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
Mtu masikini huomba rehema, lakini mtu tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
24 A man [that hath] friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend [that] sticketh closer than a brother.
Anayejidai kwa marafiki wengi watamleta katika uharibifu, bali yupo rafiki ambaye huwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
