< Mithali 13 >
1 Mwana mwenye hekima husikia mafundisho ya babaye, bali mwenye dharau hasikilizi maonyo.
A wise son—the instruction of a father, And a scorner—he has not heard rebuke.
2 Kutoka tunda la midomo yake mtu hufurahia mambo mema, bali wasio waaminifu wanatamani sana jeuri.
A man eats good from the fruit of the mouth, And the soul of the treacherous—violence.
3 Yeye alindaye midomo yake hulinda nafsi yake, bali yeye asemaye kwa haraka ataangamia.
Whoever is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoever is opening wide his lips—ruin to him!
4 Mvivu hutamani sana na hapati kitu, bali nafsi ya mwenye bidii hutoshelezwa kikamilifu.
The soul of the slothful is desiring, and does not have. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.
5 Mwenye haki huchukia uongo, bali waovu huleta aibu na fedheha.
The righteous hates a false word, And the wicked causes abhorrence, and is confounded.
6 Haki humlinda mtu mwadilifu, bali uovu humwangusha mwenye dhambi.
Righteousness keeps him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthrows a sin offering.
7 Mtu mmoja hujifanya tajiri, kumbe hana chochote; mwingine hujifanya maskini, kumbe ana utajiri mwingi.
There is [he] who is making himself rich, and has nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth [is] abundant.
8 Utajiri wa mtu waweza kukomboa maisha yake, bali mtu maskini hasikii kitisho.
The ransom of a man’s life [are] his riches, And the poor has not heard rebuke.
9 Nuru ya mwenye haki hungʼaa sana, bali taa ya mwovu itazimwa.
The light of the righteous rejoices, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 Kiburi huzalisha magomvi tu, bali hekima hupatikana kwa wale wanaozingatia ushauri.
A vain man causes debate through pride, And wisdom [is] with the counseled.
11 Fedha isiyo ya halali hupungua, bali yeye akusanyaye fedha kidogo kidogo huongezeka.
Wealth from vanity becomes little, And whoever is gathering by the hand becomes great.
12 Kilichotarajiwa kikikawia kuja moyo huugua, bali tumaini lililotimizwa ni mti wa uzima.
Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life [is] the coming desire.
13 Yeye anayedharau mafundisho anajiletea maangamizi, bali yeye anayeheshimu agizo hupewa tuzo.
Whoever is despising the word is destroyed for it, And whoever is fearing the command is repaid.
14 Mafundisho ya mwenye busara ni chemchemi ya uzima, ili kumwepusha mtu na mitego ya mauti.
The law of the wise [is] a fountain of life, To turn aside from snares of death.
15 Ufahamu mzuri hupata upendeleo, bali njia ya asiye mwaminifu ni ngumu.
Good understanding gives grace, And the way of the treacherous [is] hard.
16 Kila mwenye busara hutenda kwa maarifa, bali mpumbavu hudhihirisha upumbavu wake.
Every prudent one deals with knowledge, And a fool spreads out folly.
17 Mjumbe mwovu huanguka kwenye taabu, bali mjumbe mwaminifu huleta uponyaji.
A wicked messenger falls into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.
18 Yeye anayedharau maonyo hupata umaskini na aibu, bali yeye anayekubali maonyo huheshimiwa.
Whoever is refusing instruction—poverty and shame, And whoever is observing reproof is honored.
19 Tarajio lililotimizwa ni tamu kwa nafsi, bali wapumbavu huchukia sana kuacha ubaya.
A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, And an abomination to fools [Is] to turn from evil.
20 Yeye atembeaye na mwenye hekima atapata hekima, bali rafiki wa mpumbavu hupata madhara.
Whoever is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffers evil.
21 Balaa humwandama mtenda dhambi, bali mafanikio ni thawabu kwa mwenye haki.
Evil pursues sinners, And good repays the righteous.
22 Mtu mwema huwaachia wana wa wanawe urithi, bali mali ya wenye dhambi imehifadhiwa kwa ajili ya wenye haki.
A good man causes sons’ sons to inherit, And the sinner’s wealth [is] laid up for the righteous.
23 Shamba la mtu maskini laweza kuzalisha chakula kingi, bali dhuluma hukifutilia mbali.
Abundance of food—the tillage of the poor, And substance is consumed without judgment.
24 Yeye aizuiaye fimbo yake hampendi mwanawe, bali yeye ampendaye huwa mwangalifu kumwadibisha.
Whoever is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoever is loving him has hurried his discipline.
25 Mwenye haki hula mpaka akaridhisha moyo wake, bali tumbo la mwovu hutaabika kwa njaa.
The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacks!