Mithali 12
1 Yeyote apendaye kuadibishwa hupenda maarifa, bali yeye achukiaye kuonywa ni mpumbavu.
He that loveth correction, loveth knowledge, but, he that hateth reproof, is brutish.
2 Mtu mwema hupata kibali kutoka kwa Bwana, bali Bwana humhukumu mwenye hila.
A good man, obtaineth favour from Yahweh, but, a man of wicked devices, will he condemn.
3 Mtu hathibitiki kutokana na uovu, bali mwenye haki hataondolewa.
A son of earth, shall not be established, by lawlessness, but, the root of the righteous, shall not be disturbed.
4 Mke mwenye tabia nzuri ni taji ya mumewe, bali aaibishaye ni kama uozo katika mifupa ya mumewe.
A virtuous woman, is the crown of her husband, but, a veritable decay in his bones, is she that causeth shame.
5 Mipango ya mtu mwadilifu ni ya haki, bali ushauri wa mwovu ni udanganyifu.
The plans of the righteous, are just, but, the counsels of the lawless, are deceitful.
6 Maneno ya waovu huotea kumwaga damu, bali maneno ya waadilifu huwaokoa.
The words of the lawless, are—of lying in wait for blood, but, the mouth of the upright, shall deliver them.
7 Watu waovu huondolewa na kutoweka, bali nyumba ya mwenye haki husimama imara.
Overthrown are the lawless and they are not, but, the house of the righteous, shall stand.
8 Mtu husifiwa kulingana na hekima yake, bali watu wenye akili zilizopotoka hudharauliwa.
In proportion to his prudence, is a man, to be praised, but, the perverse in heart, shall be an object of contempt.
9 Heri mtu wa hali ya chini mwenye mtumishi, kuliko kujifanya mtu wa hali ya juu nawe huna chakula.
Better slighted, and have a servant, than to honour oneself, and come short of bread.
10 Mtu mwenye haki hujali mahitaji ya mnyama wake, bali matendo ya huruma ya mwovu ni ukatili.
A righteous man, regardeth the desire of his beast, but, the compassions of the lawless, are cruel.
11 Yeye alimaye shamba lake atakuwa na chakula tele, bali yeye afuataye mambo ya upuzi hana akili.
He that tilleth his land, shall be filled with food, but, he that runneth after worthless men, lacketh sense.
12 Waovu hutamani mateka ya watu wabaya, bali shina la mwenye haki hustawi.
A lawless man craveth the prey of the wicked, but, the root of the righteous, is enduring.
13 Mtu mwovu hunaswa kwa mazungumzo yake ya dhambi, bali mwenye haki huepuka taabu.
By the transgression of the lips, is the wicked man, ensnared, but the righteous, cometh out of distress.
14 Kutokana na tunda la midomo yake mtu hujazwa na mambo mema, hakika kama ilivyo kazi ya mikono yake humtunza.
Of the fruit of a man’s mouth, shall he be satisfied with good, and, the dealing of the hands of a son of earth, shall be paid back to him.
15 Njia ya mpumbavu huonekana sawa machoni pake mwenyewe, bali mtu mwenye hekima husikiliza ushauri.
The way of the foolish, is right in his own eyes, but, he that hearkeneth to counsel, is wise.
16 Mpumbavu huonyesha kuudhika kwake mara moja, bali mtu wa busara hupuuza matukano.
A foolish man, on the [same] day, letteth his vexation be known, but, he that concealeth an affront, is prudent.
17 Shahidi wa kweli hutoa ushuhuda wa kuaminika, bali shahidi wa uongo husema uongo.
He that whispereth faithfulness, declareth righteousness, but, a false witness, is a fraud.
18 Maneno ya kipumbavu huchoma kama upanga, bali ulimi wa mwenye hekima huleta uponyaji.
There is who babbleth, as with thrusts of a sword, but, the tongue of the wise, hath healing.
19 Midomo isemayo kweli hudumu milele, bali ulimi wa uongo hudumu kwa muda mfupi tu.
A lip that is faithful, shall be firm to futurity, but, only for a twinkling, is the tongue that is false.
20 Upo udanganyifu katika mioyo ya wale ambao hupanga mabaya, bali kuna furaha kwa wale wanaoleta amani.
Deceit, is in the heart of contrivers of mischief, but, to the counsellors of peace, shall be joy.
21 Hakuna dhara linalompata mwenye haki, bali waovu wana taabu nyingi.
Unseemly to the righteous, is any trouble, but, the lawless, are full of misfortune.
22 Bwana anachukia sana midomo idanganyayo, bali hufurahia watu ambao ni wa kweli.
An abomination to Yahweh, are lips that are false, but, he that dealeth faithfully, is his delight.
23 Mtu mwenye busara hujihifadhia maarifa yeye mwenyewe, bali moyo wa wapumbavu hububujika upumbavu.
A prudent man, concealeth knowledge, but, the heart of dullards, proclaimeth folly.
24 Mikono yenye bidii itatawala, bali uvivu huishia katika kazi za utumwa.
The hand of the diligent, shall bear rule, but, the indolent, shall come under tribute.
25 Moyo wa wasiwasi humlemea mtu, bali neno la huruma humfurahisha.
When anxiety is in the heart of a man, one may bow him down, but, a good word, maketh him glad.
26 Mtu mwenye haki ni mwangalifu katika urafiki, bali njia ya waovu huwapotosha.
The righteous man guideth his neighbour, but, the way of the lawless, leadeth them astray.
27 Mtu mvivu haoki mawindo yake, bali mtu mwenye bidii ana mali za thamani.
Indolence, roasteth not, his own game, but, the substance of a man, is precious, when he is diligent.
28 Katika njia ya haki kuna uzima; katika mapito hayo kuna maisha ya milele.
In the way of righteousness, is life, and, in the path thereof, immortality,
