Proverbs 18
1 A man who isolates himself pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
Yule ambaye hujitenga hutafuta matakwa yake mwenyewe na hupingana na hukumu zote za kweli.
2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Mpumbavu hapati raha katika ufahamu, lakini hufunua kile kilichopo katika moyo wake.
3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
Mtu mwovu anapokuja, dharau huja pamoja naye- sambamba na aibu na shutuma.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
Maneno ya kinywa cha mtu ni maji yenye kina kirefu; chemchemi ya hekima ni mkondo unaotiririka.
5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
Si vema kuwa na upendeleo kwa mwovu, wala haifai kukana haki kwa wale watendao mema.
6 A fool’s lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
Midomo ya mpumbavu huletea mafarakano na kinywa chake hukaribisha mapigo.
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na hujinasa mwenye kwa midomo yake.
8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
Maneno ya mmbea ni kama chembe tamu na hushuka katika sehema za ndani sana kwenye mwili.
9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
Basi, ambaye ni mzembe katika kazi yake ni ndugu yake anayeharibu wengi.
10 Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
Jina la Yehova ni mnara imara; atendaye haki hukimbilia na kuwa salama.
11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake imara na katika fikira zake ni kama ukuta mrefu.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Moyo wa mtu huwa na kiburi kabla ya anguko lake, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia kabla ya heshima.
13 He who answers before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Anayejibu kabla ya kusikiliza- ni upuuzi na aibu yake.
14 A man’s spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
Roho ya mtu itajinusuru na madhara, bali roho iliyopondeka nani anaweza kuivumilia?
15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Moyo wa mwenye akili hujipatia maarifa na usikivu wa mwenye busara huitafuta.
16 A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Zawadi ya mtu inaweza kufungua njia na kumleta mbele ya mtu muhimu.
17 He who pleads his cause first seems right— until another comes and questions him.
Wa kwanza kujitetea katika shitaka lake huonekana kuwa na haki hadi mpinzani wake aje na kumuuliza maswali.
18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
Kupiga kura kunamaliza mabishano na kuwatawanya wapinzani imara.
19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city. Disputes are like the bars of a fortress.
Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kushawishiwa kuliko mji wenye nguvu, na kugombana ni kama makomeo ya ngome.
20 A man’s stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
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; those who love it will eat its fruit.
Uzima na kifo hutawaliwa kwa ulimi, na wale wenye kuupenda ulimi watakula tunda lake.
22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
Yeye apataye mke anapata kitu chema na kupokea fadhila kutoka kwa Yehova.
23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
Mtu masikini huomba rehema, lakini mtu tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Anayejidai kwa marafiki wengi watamleta katika uharibifu, bali yupo rafiki ambaye huwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
