Mithali 14
1 Mwanamke mwenye hekima huijenga nyumba yake, bali mpumbavu huibomoa nyumba yake kwa mikono yake mwenyewe.
Wise women build houses: but a foolish one digs [hers] down with her hands.
2 Yeye ambaye njia zake ni nyofu humcha Bwana, bali yeye ambaye njia zake zimepotoka humdharau Mungu.
He that walks uprightly fears the Lord; but he that is perverse in his ways shall be dishonoured.
3 Mazungumzo ya mpumbavu huleta fimbo mgongoni mwake, bali mwenye hekima hulindwa na maneno ya midomo yake.
Out of the mouth of fools [comes] a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise preserve them.
4 Pale ambapo hakuna mafahali, hori ni tupu, bali kutokana na nguvu za fahali huja mavuno mengi.
Where no oxen are, the cribs are clean; but where there is abundant produce, the strength of the ox is apparent.
5 Shahidi mwaminifu hadanganyi, bali shahidi wa uongo humimina uongo.
A faithful witness does not lie; but an unjust witness kindles falsehoods.
6 Mwenye mzaha huitafuta hekima na haipati, bali maarifa huja kwa urahisi kwa anayepambanua.
You shall seek wisdom with bad men, and shall not find it; but discretion is easily available with the prudent.
7 Kaa mbali na mtu mpumbavu, kwa maana hutapata maarifa katika midomo yake.
All things are adverse to a foolish man; but wise lips are the weapons of discretion.
8 Hekima ya mwenye busara ni kufikiria njia zake, bali upumbavu wa wapumbavu ni udanganyifu.
The wisdom of the prudent will understand their ways; but the folly of fools leads astray.
9 Wapumbavu hudhihaki kujirekebisha kutoka dhambi, bali wema hupatikana miongoni mwa wanyofu.
The houses of transgressors will need purification; but the houses of the just are acceptable.
10 Kila moyo hujua uchungu wake wenyewe, wala hakuna yeyote awezaye kushiriki furaha yake.
[If] a man's mind is intelligent, his soul is sorrowful; and when he rejoices, he has no fellowship with pride.
11 Nyumba ya mwovu itaangamizwa, bali hema la mnyofu litastawi.
The houses of ungodly men shall be utterly destroyed; but the tabernacles of them that walk uprightly shall stand.
12 Iko njia ionekanayo kuwa sawa kwa mtu, bali mwisho wake huelekeza mautini.
There is a way which seems to be right with men, but the ends of it reach to the depths of hell. (questioned)
13 Hata katika kicheko moyo waweza kuuma, nayo furaha yaweza kuishia katika majonzi.
Grief mingles not with mirth; and joy in the end comes to grief.
14 Wasio na imani watapatilizwa kikamilifu kwa ajili ya njia zao, naye mtu mwema atapewa thawabu kwa ajili ya njia yake.
A stout-hearted [man] shall be filled with his own ways; and a good man with his own thoughts.
15 Mtu mjinga huamini kila kitu, bali mwenye busara hufikiria hatua zake.
The simple believes every word: but the prudent man betakes himself to afterthought.
16 Mtu mwenye hekima humcha Bwana na kuepuka mabaya, bali mpumbavu hukasirika kwa hamaki na uzembe.
A wise man fears, and departs from evil; but the fool trusts in himself, and joins himself with the transgressor.
17 Mtu anayekasirika kwa haraka hufanya mambo ya upumbavu, naye mtu wa hila huchukiwa.
A passionate man acts inconsiderately; but a sensible man bears up under many things.
18 Mjinga hurithi upumbavu, bali wenye busara huvikwa maarifa kichwani kama taji.
Fools shall have mischief for their portion; but the prudent shall take fast hold of understanding.
19 Watu wabaya watasujudu mbele ya watu wema, nao waovu kwenye malango ya wenye haki.
Evil men shall fall before the good; and the ungodly shall attend at the gates of the righteous.
20 Maskini huepukwa hata na majirani zao, bali matajiri wana marafiki wengi.
Friends will hate poor friends; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Yeye anayemdharau jirani yake hutenda dhambi, bali amebarikiwa yeye aliye na huruma kwa mhitaji.
He that dishonours the needy sins: but he that has pity on the poor is most blessed.
22 Je, wale wanaopanga ubaya hawapotoki? Bali wale wanaopanga kilicho chema hupata upendo na uaminifu.
They that go astray devise evils: but the good devise mercy and truth. The framers of evil do not understand mercy and truth: but compassion and faithfulness are with the framers of good.
23 Kazi zote zinazofanywa kwa bidii huleta faida, bali mazungumzo matupu huelekea umaskini tu.
With every one [who is] careful there is abundance: but the pleasure-taking and indolent shall be in lack.
24 Utajiri wa wenye hekima ni taji yao, bali upumbavu wa wapumbavu huzaa upumbavu.
A prudent man is the crown of the wise: but the occupation of fools is evil.
25 Shahidi wa kweli huokoa maisha, bali shahidi wa uongo ni mdanganyifu.
A faithful witness shall deliver a soul from evil: but a deceitful [man] kindles falsehoods.
26 Yeye amchaye Bwana ana ngome salama, na kwa watoto wake itakuwa kimbilio.
In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and he leaves his children a support.
27 Kumcha Bwana ni chemchemi ya uzima, ili kumwepusha mtu na mitego ya mauti.
The commandment of the Lord is a fountain of life; and it causes [men] to turn aside from the snare of death.
28 Wingi wa watu ni utukufu wa mfalme, bali pasipo watu mkuu huangamia.
In a populous nation is the glory of a king: but in the failure of people is the ruin of a prince.
29 Mtu mwenye subira ana ufahamu mwingi, bali anayekasirika haraka huonyesha upumbavu.
A man slow to wrath abounds in wisdom: but a man of impatient spirit is very foolish.
30 Moyo wenye amani huupa mwili uzima, bali wivu huozesha mifupa.
A meek-spirited man is a healer of the heart: but a sensitive heart is a corruption of the bones.
31 Yeye amwoneaye maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wao, bali yeyote anayemhurumia mhitaji humheshimu Mungu.
He that oppresses the needy provokes his Maker: but he that honours him has pity upon the poor.
32 Waovu huangamizwa kwa matendo yao maovu, bali hata katika kifo wenye haki hupata kimbilio.
The ungodly shall be driven away in his wickedness: but he who is secure in his own holiness is just.
33 Hekima hukaa katika moyo wa mwenye ufahamu bali haijulikani miongoni mwa wapumbavu.
There is wisdom in the good heart of a man: but in the heart of fools it is not discerned.
34 Haki huinua taifa, bali dhambi ni aibu kwa watu wote.
Righteousness exalts a nation: but sins diminish tribes.
35 Mfalme hupendezwa na mtumishi mwenye hekima, bali ghadhabu yake humwangukia mtumishi mwenye kuaibisha.
An understanding servant is acceptable to a king; and by his good behaviour he removes disgrace.
