Proverbs 22
1 A [good] name [is] rather to be chosen than great riches, [and] loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Heri kuchagua jina jema kuliko utajiri mwingi, kuheshimiwa ni bora kuliko fedha au dhahabu.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD [is] the maker of them all.
Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
3 A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele kama kipofu nayo ikamtesa.
4 By humility [and] the fear of the LORD [are] riches, and honor, and life.
Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
5 Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Katika mapito ya waovu kuna miiba na mitego, bali yeye ailindaye nafsi yake hukaa mbali nayo.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea, naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower [is] servant to the lender.
Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu, nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall end; yes, strife and reproach shall cease.
Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka, na mvutano utatoweka; ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king [shall be] his friend.
Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
13 The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
14 The mouth of strange women [is] a deep pit: he that is abhorred by the LORD shall fall therein.
Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu; yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
15 Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [riches], [and] he that giveth to the rich, [shall] surely [come] to want.
Yeye amwoneaye maskini ili kujiongezea mali, naye ampaye tajiri zawadi, wote huwa maskini.
17 Bow down thy ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
Tega sikio na usikie misemo ya wenye hekima, elekeza moyo wako kwenye yale nifundishayo,
18 For [it is] a pleasant thing if thou keepest them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
kwa maana inapendeza unapoyahifadhi moyoni mwako na kuwa nayo yote tayari midomoni mwako.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini, misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send to thee?
kukufundisha maneno ya kweli na ya kuaminika, ili uweze kutoa majibu sahihi kwake yeye aliyekutuma?
22 Rob not the poor, because he [is] poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini, wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
26 Be not thou [one] of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts.
Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani lililowekwa na baba zako.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean [men].
Je, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake? Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme; hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
