Proverbs 18
1 For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
Mtu ajitengaye na wengine hufuata matakwa yake mwenyewe; hupiga vita kila shauri jema.
2 A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
Mpumbavu hafurahii ufahamu, bali hufurahia kutangaza maoni yake mwenyewe.
3 With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.
Wakati uovu unapokuja, dharau huja pia, pamoja na aibu huja lawama.
4 Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
Maneno ya kinywa cha mwanadamu ni kina cha maji, bali chemchemi ya hekima ni kijito kinachobubujika.
5 Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
Sio vizuri kumpendelea mtu mwovu, au kumnyima haki asiye na hatia.
6 The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
Midomo ya mpumbavu humletea ugomvi na kinywa chake hualika kipigo.
7 The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, And his lips [are] the snare of his soul.
Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na midomo yake ni mtego kwa nafsi yake.
8 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu; huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.
9 He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
Mtu aliye mlegevu katika kazi yake ni ndugu na yule anayeharibu.
10 A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
Jina la Bwana ni ngome imara, wenye haki huikimbilia na kuwa salama.
11 The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake wenye ngome, wanaudhania kuwa ukuta usioweza kurukwa.
12 Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
Kabla ya anguko moyo wa mtu hujaa kiburi, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia heshima.
13 Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
Yeye ajibuye kabla ya kusikiliza, huo ni upumbavu wake na aibu yake.
14 The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
Roho ya mtu itastahimili katika ugonjwa bali roho iliyovunjika ni nani awezaye kuistahimili?
15 The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
Moyo wa mwenye ufahamu hujipatia maarifa, masikio ya mwenye hekima huyatafuta maarifa.
16 The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
Zawadi humfungulia njia mtoaji, nayo humleta mbele ya wakuu.
17 Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
Yeye aliye wa kwanza kuleta mashtaka huonekana sahihi, hadi mwingine ajitokezapo na kumuuliza maswali.
18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
Kupiga kura hukomesha mashindano na kutenganisha wapinzani wakuu wanaopingana.
19 A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kuridhika kuliko mji uliozungushiwa ngome, nayo mabishano ni kama malango ya ngome yenye makomeo.
20 From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is satisfied.
Tumbo la mtu litajaa kutokana na tunda la kinywa chake, atashibishwa mavuno yanayotokana na midomo yake.
21 Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
Mauti na uzima viko katika uwezo wa ulimi, nao waupendao watakula matunda yake.
22 [Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
Apataye mke apata kitu chema naye ajipatia kibali kwa Bwana.
23 [With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
Mtu maskini huomba kuhurumiwa bali tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
24 A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
Mtu mwenye marafiki wengi wanaweza kumharibu, bali yuko rafiki aambatanaye na mtu kwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
