Mithali 14
1 Mwanamke mwenye hekima huijenga nyumba yake, bali mpumbavu huibomoa nyumba yake kwa mikono yake mwenyewe.
Wisdom is building her house, but the foolish woman is pulling it down with her hands.
2 Yeye ambaye njia zake ni nyofu humcha Bwana, bali yeye ambaye njia zake zimepotoka humdharau Mungu.
He who goes on his way in righteousness has before him the fear of the Lord; but he whose ways are twisted gives him no honour.
3 Mazungumzo ya mpumbavu huleta fimbo mgongoni mwake, bali mwenye hekima hulindwa na maneno ya midomo yake.
In the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe.
4 Pale ambapo hakuna mafahali, hori ni tupu, bali kutokana na nguvu za fahali huja mavuno mengi.
Where there are no oxen, their food-place is clean; but much increase comes through the strength of the ox.
5 Shahidi mwaminifu hadanganyi, bali shahidi wa uongo humimina uongo.
A true witness does not say what is false, but a false witness is breathing out deceit.
6 Mwenye mzaha huitafuta hekima na haipati, bali maarifa huja kwa urahisi kwa anayepambanua.
The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man.
7 Kaa mbali na mtu mpumbavu, kwa maana hutapata maarifa katika midomo yake.
Go away from the foolish man, for you will not see the lips of knowledge.
8 Hekima ya mwenye busara ni kufikiria njia zake, bali upumbavu wa wapumbavu ni udanganyifu.
The wisdom of the man of good sense makes his way clear; but the unwise behaviour of the foolish is deceit.
9 Wapumbavu hudhihaki kujirekebisha kutoka dhambi, bali wema hupatikana miongoni mwa wanyofu.
In the tents of those hating authority there is error, but in the house of the upright man there is grace.
10 Kila moyo hujua uchungu wake wenyewe, wala hakuna yeyote awezaye kushiriki furaha yake.
No one has knowledge of a man's grief but himself; and a strange person has no part in his joy.
11 Nyumba ya mwovu itaangamizwa, bali hema la mnyofu litastawi.
The house of the sinner will be overturned, but the tent of the upright man will do well.
12 Iko njia ionekanayo kuwa sawa kwa mtu, bali mwisho wake huelekeza mautini.
There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death.
13 Hata katika kicheko moyo waweza kuuma, nayo furaha yaweza kuishia katika majonzi.
Even while laughing the heart may be sad; and after joy comes sorrow.
14 Wasio na imani watapatilizwa kikamilifu kwa ajili ya njia zao, naye mtu mwema atapewa thawabu kwa ajili ya njia yake.
He whose heart is turned away will have the reward of his ways in full measure; but a good man will have the reward of his doings.
15 Mtu mjinga huamini kila kitu, bali mwenye busara hufikiria hatua zake.
The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps.
16 Mtu mwenye hekima humcha Bwana na kuepuka mabaya, bali mpumbavu hukasirika kwa hamaki na uzembe.
The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger.
17 Mtu anayekasirika kwa haraka hufanya mambo ya upumbavu, naye mtu wa hila huchukiwa.
He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet.
18 Mjinga hurithi upumbavu, bali wenye busara huvikwa maarifa kichwani kama taji.
Foolish behaviour is the heritage of the simple, but men of good sense are crowned with knowledge.
19 Watu wabaya watasujudu mbele ya watu wema, nao waovu kwenye malango ya wenye haki.
The knees of the evil are bent before the good; and sinners go down in the dust at the doors of the upright.
20 Maskini huepukwa hata na majirani zao, bali matajiri wana marafiki wengi.
The poor man is hated even by his neighbour, but the man of wealth has numbers of friends.
21 Yeye anayemdharau jirani yake hutenda dhambi, bali amebarikiwa yeye aliye na huruma kwa mhitaji.
He who has no respect for his neighbour is a sinner, but he who has pity for the poor is happy.
22 Je, wale wanaopanga ubaya hawapotoki? Bali wale wanaopanga kilicho chema hupata upendo na uaminifu.
Will not the designers of evil come into error? But mercy and good faith are for the designers of good.
23 Kazi zote zinazofanywa kwa bidii huleta faida, bali mazungumzo matupu huelekea umaskini tu.
In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor.
24 Utajiri wa wenye hekima ni taji yao, bali upumbavu wa wapumbavu huzaa upumbavu.
Their wisdom is a crown to the wise, but their foolish behaviour is round the head of the unwise.
25 Shahidi wa kweli huokoa maisha, bali shahidi wa uongo ni mdanganyifu.
A true witness is the saviour of lives; but he who says false things is a cause of deceit.
26 Yeye amchaye Bwana ana ngome salama, na kwa watoto wake itakuwa kimbilio.
For him in whose heart is the fear of the Lord there is strong hope: and his children will have a safe place.
27 Kumcha Bwana ni chemchemi ya uzima, ili kumwepusha mtu na mitego ya mauti.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, by which one may be turned from the nets of death.
28 Wingi wa watu ni utukufu wa mfalme, bali pasipo watu mkuu huangamia.
A king's glory is in the number of his people: and for need of people a ruler may come to destruction.
29 Mtu mwenye subira ana ufahamu mwingi, bali anayekasirika haraka huonyesha upumbavu.
He who is slow to be angry has great good sense; but he whose spirit is over-quick gives support to what is foolish.
30 Moyo wenye amani huupa mwili uzima, bali wivu huozesha mifupa.
A quiet mind is the life of the body, but envy is a disease in the bones.
31 Yeye amwoneaye maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wao, bali yeyote anayemhurumia mhitaji humheshimu Mungu.
He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour.
32 Waovu huangamizwa kwa matendo yao maovu, bali hata katika kifo wenye haki hupata kimbilio.
The sinner is overturned in his evil-doing, but the upright man has hope in his righteousness.
33 Hekima hukaa katika moyo wa mwenye ufahamu bali haijulikani miongoni mwa wapumbavu.
Wisdom has her resting-place in the mind of the wise, but she is not seen among the foolish.
34 Haki huinua taifa, bali dhambi ni aibu kwa watu wote.
By righteousness a nation is lifted up, but sin is a cause of shame to the peoples.
35 Mfalme hupendezwa na mtumishi mwenye hekima, bali ghadhabu yake humwangukia mtumishi mwenye kuaibisha.
The king has pleasure in a servant who does wisely, but his wrath is against him who is a cause of shame.
