< Thimo 18 >

1 Mũndũ ũrĩa ũtendaga gũtũũrania na andũ arũmagĩrĩra o merirĩria make; ningĩ areganaga na matua mothe ma ũũgĩ ũrĩa mũkinyanĩru.
He who isolates himself pursues selfish desires; he rebels against all sound judgment.
2 Mũndũ mũkĩĩgu ndakenagĩra ũtaũku, no akenagĩra kwaria woni wake mwene.
A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in airing his opinions.
3 Rĩrĩa waganu woka, ũrehaga ũirano, nacio njono irehaga thoni.
With a wicked man comes contempt as well, and shame is accompanied by disgrace.
4 Ciugo cia kanua ka mũndũ nĩ ta ndia ndiku, no gĩthima kĩa ũũgĩ nĩ karũũĩ gatherũkaga.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
5 Ti wega gũtĩĩra andũ arĩa aaganu maũthĩ, kana kuogomia kĩhooto kĩa arĩa matehĩtie.
Showing partiality to the wicked is not good, nor is depriving the innocent of justice.
6 Mĩromo ya mũndũ mũkĩĩgu ĩmũrehagĩra ngũĩ, nako kanua gake geetagia rũthanju.
A fool’s lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating.
7 Kanua ka mũndũ mũkĩĩgu nĩko kamũthũkagĩria maũndũ, nayo mĩromo yake nĩ mũtego wa ngoro yake.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 Ndeto cia mũndũ wa mũhuhu nĩ ta twenyũ twega twa irio; tũmerũkaga nginya tũturi-inĩ twa nda tũrĩa tũrĩ thĩinĩ mũno.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
9 Mũndũ kĩgũũta wĩra-inĩ wake nĩ wa nyina na ũrĩa wanangaga.
Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.
10 Rĩĩtwa rĩa Jehova nĩ mũthiringo ũrĩ hinya; arĩa athingu moragĩra ho, nao magaikara marĩ agitĩre.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
11 Ũtonga wa andũ arĩa atongu nĩguo itũũra rĩao rĩa hinya; meciiragia nĩ rũthingo rũtangĩhaicĩka.
A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city; it is like a high wall in his imagination.
12 Mbere ya mwanangĩko, ngoro ya mũndũ ĩkoragwo na mwĩtĩĩo, no kwĩnyiihia nĩkuo gũtongoragia gĩtĩĩo.
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Mũndũ ũrĩa ũcookagia ũhoro mbere ya kũũthikĩrĩria, ũndũ ũcio nĩ ũrimũ na thoni ciake.
He who answers a matter before he hears it— this is folly and disgrace to him.
14 Roho wa mũndũ nĩguo ũmũũmagĩrĩria rĩrĩa arĩ mũrũaru, no roho mũthuthĩku nũũ ũngĩhota kũwĩtiiria?
The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, but who can survive a broken spirit?
15 Ngoro ya mũndũ mũkũũrani maũndũ nĩĩgĩagĩra ũmenyo; matũ ma arĩa oogĩ nĩmaũcaragĩrĩria.
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks it out.
16 Kĩheo mũndũ aheanĩte kĩmuonagia njĩra ya kũhĩtũkĩra, gĩkamũkinyia harĩ andũ arĩa anene.
A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Mũndũ ũrĩa ũrehaga ciira wake mbere onekaga taarĩ we na ma, o nginya rĩrĩa mũndũ ũrĩa maraciira nake ooka kũmũũria ciũria.
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
18 Ũcuuki wa mĩtĩ nĩũniinaga ngarari, na ũgateithũrana andũ eerĩ njamba.
Casting the lot ends quarrels and separates strong opponents.
19 Mũndũ mũrakarie nĩ mũrũ wa nyina nĩ hinya kwĩiguithania nake gũkĩra kwĩgwatĩra itũũra inene rĩirigĩre, nacio ngarari nĩ ta mĩgĩĩko ĩrĩa ĩhingaga njeera.
An offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city, and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
20 Nda ya mũndũ nĩĩhũũnagio nĩ maciaro ma kanua gake; nĩaiganagwo nĩ magetha ma mĩromo yake.
From the fruit of his mouth a man’s belly is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 Rũrĩmĩ rũrĩ na hinya wa gwathĩrĩra mũndũ muoyo kana gĩkuũ, no arĩa marwendete no marĩĩage maciaro maaruo.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
22 Mũndũ ũrĩa wĩgĩĩagĩra na mũtumia nĩegĩagĩra na kĩndũ kĩega, na nĩgũtugwo atugĩtwo nĩ Jehova.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.
23 Mũndũ mũthĩĩni athaithanaga aiguĩrwo tha, no gĩtonga gĩcookagia ũhoro na ũũru.
The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 Mũndũ mũceeri na andũ aingĩ aahota kwĩyũnũhithia, no nĩ kũrĩ mũrata ũnyiitanaga na mũndũ gũkĩra mũrũ wa nyina na mũndũ.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

< Thimo 18 >