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 hath not heard rebuke.
2 Kutoka tunda la midomo yake mtu hufurahia mambo mema, bali wasio waaminifu wanatamani sana jeuri.
From the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous — violence.
3 Yeye alindaye midomo yake hulinda nafsi yake, bali yeye asemaye kwa haraka ataangamia.
Whoso is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoso 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 hath not. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.
5 Mwenye haki huchukia uongo, bali waovu huleta aibu na fedheha.
A false word the righteous hateth, And the wicked causeth abhorrence, and is confounded.
6 Haki humlinda mtu mwadilifu, bali uovu humwangusha mwenye dhambi.
Righteousness keepeth him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthroweth a sin offering.
7 Mtu mmoja hujifanya tajiri, kumbe hana chochote; mwingine hujifanya maskini, kumbe ana utajiri mwingi.
There is who is making himself rich, and hath 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 hath not heard rebuke.
9 Nuru ya mwenye haki hungʼaa sana, bali taa ya mwovu itazimwa.
The light of the righteous rejoiceth, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 Kiburi huzalisha magomvi tu, bali hekima hupatikana kwa wale wanaozingatia ushauri.
A vain man through pride causeth debate, And with the counselled [is] wisdom.
11 Fedha isiyo ya halali hupungua, bali yeye akusanyaye fedha kidogo kidogo huongezeka.
Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh 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.
Whoso is despising the Word is destroyed for it, And whoso is fearing the Command is repayed.
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 giveth grace, And the way of the treacherous [is] hard.
16 Kila mwenye busara hutenda kwa maarifa, bali mpumbavu hudhihirisha upumbavu wake.
Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.
17 Mjumbe mwovu huanguka kwenye taabu, bali mjumbe mwaminifu huleta uponyaji.
A wicked messenger falleth into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.
18 Yeye anayedharau maonyo hupata umaskini na aibu, bali yeye anayekubali maonyo huheshimiwa.
Whoso is refusing instruction — poverty and shame, And whoso is observing reproof is honoured.
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]: Turn from evil.
20 Yeye atembeaye na mwenye hekima atapata hekima, bali rafiki wa mpumbavu hupata madhara.
Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.
21 Balaa humwandama mtenda dhambi, bali mafanikio ni thawabu kwa mwenye haki.
Evil pursueth sinners, And good recompenseth the righteous.
22 Mtu mwema huwaachia wana wa wanawe urithi, bali mali ya wenye dhambi imehifadhiwa kwa ajili ya wenye haki.
A good man causeth sons' sons to inherit, And laid up for the righteous [is] the sinner's wealth.
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.
Whoso is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoso is loving him hath hastened him chastisement.
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 lacketh!
