Proverbs 12
1 Whoso is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoso is hating reproof [is] brutish.
Anayependa mafundisho hupenda maarifa, bali yule anayechukia maonyo ni mpumbavu.
2 The good bringeth forth favour from Jehovah, And the man of wicked devices He condemneth.
Yehova humpa fadhila mtu mwema, bali mtu ambaye hufanya mipango ya ufisada atahukumiwa.
3 A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.
Mtu hawezi kuimarishwa kwa uovu, bali wale watendao haki hawawezi kung'olewa.
4 A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame.
Mke mwema ni taji ya mume wake, bali yule aletaye aibu ni kama ugonjwa unaoozesha mifupa yake.
5 The thoughts of the righteous [are] justice, The counsels of the wicked — deceit.
Mipango ya wale watendao haki ni adili, bali shauri la mwovu ni udanganyifu.
6 The words of the wicked [are]: 'Lay wait for blood,' And the mouth of the upright delivereth them.
Maneno ya watu waovu ni uviziaji unaosubiri nafasi ya kuua, bali maneno ya mwenye haki yatawatunza salama.
7 Overthrow the wicked, and they are not, And the house of the righteous standeth.
Watu waovu wametupwa na kuondolewa, bali nyumba ya wale watendao haki itasimama.
8 According to his wisdom is a man praised, And the perverted of heart becometh despised.
Mtu husifiwa kwa kadri ya hekima yake, bali yule anayechagua ukaidi hudharauliwa.
9 Better [is] the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.
Bora kuwa na cheo duni- kuwa mtumishi tu- kuliko kujisifu kuhusu ukuu wako bila kuwa na chakula.
10 The righteous knoweth the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.
Yule atendaye haki anajali mahitaji ya mnyama wake, bali huruma ya mwovu ni ukatili.
11 Whoso is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
Yule atendaye kazi katika shamba lake atapata chakula tele, bali anayesaka miradi duni hana akili.
12 The wicked hath desired the net of evil doers, And the root of the righteous giveth.
Watu waovu hutamani wanavyoiba watu wabaya kutoka kwa wengine, bali tunda la wale watendao haki hutoka kwao mwenyewe.
13 In transgression of the lips [is] the snare of the wicked, And the righteous goeth out from distress.
Mtu mbaya hunaswa kwa maongezi yake mabaya, bali wale watendao haki hujinasua katika taabu.
14 From the fruit of the mouth [is] one satisfied [with] good, And the deed of man's hands returneth to him.
Mtu hushiba vitu vyema kutokana na tunda la maneno yake, kama vile kazi ya mikono yake inavyompa thawabu.
15 The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoso is hearkening to counsel [is] wise.
Njia ya mpumbavu ni sawa machoni pake mwenyewe, bali mtu wa hekima husikiliza ushauri.
16 The fool — in a day is his anger known, And the prudent is covering shame.
Mpumbavu huonyesha hasira yake papo hapo, bali asiyejali tusi ni mwenye busara.
17 Whoso uttereth faithfulness declareth righteousness, And a false witness — deceit.
Asemaye ukweli huongea ilivyo haki, bali shahidi wa uongo huongea uongo.
18 A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
Maneno yake asemaye kwa pupa ni kama kurusha upanga, bali ulimi wa mwenye hekima huleta uponyaji.
19 The lip of truth is established for ever, And for a moment — a tongue of falsehood.
Midomo yenye kweli itadumu milele, bali ulimi wa uongo ni kwa kitambo kidogo tu.
20 Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, And to those counselling peace [is] joy.
Kuna udanganyifu katika mioyo ya wale wanaopanga kutenda uovu, bali furaha hutoka kwa washauri wa amani.
21 No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.
Hakuna ugonjwa utakaowajia wale watendao haki, bali watu waovu watajazwa matatizo.
22 An abomination to Jehovah [are] lying lips, And stedfast doers [are] his delight.
Yehova anachukia midomo ya uongo, bali wale ambao huishi kwa uaminifu ndiyo furaha yake.
23 A prudent man is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaimeth folly.
Mtu mwenye busara anasitiri maarifa yake, bali moyo wa wapumbavu hupiga yowe za kipumbavu.
24 The hand of the diligent ruleth, And slothfulness becometh tributary.
Mkono wa mwenye bidii utatawala, bali watu wavivu watawekwa katika kazi za kulazimishwa.
25 Sorrow in the heart of a man boweth down, And a good word maketh him glad.
Mashaka katika moyo wa mtu humwelemea, bali neno zuri humfurahisha.
26 The righteous searcheth his companion, And the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
Mwenye haki ni kiongozi kwa rafiki yake, bali njia ya waovu huwaongoza katika kupotea.
27 The slothful roasteth not his hunting, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious.
Watu wavivu hawawezi kubanika mawindo yao wenyewe, bali mtu wenye bidii atapata mali zenye thamani.
28 In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death!
Wale ambao wanatembea katika njia ya haki wanapata uzima na katika mapito hayo hakuna kifo.
