Mithali 14
1 Mwanamke mwenye hekima huijenga nyumba yake, bali mpumbavu huibomoa nyumba yake kwa mikono yake mwenyewe.
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.
2 Yeye ambaye njia zake ni nyofu humcha Bwana, bali yeye ambaye njia zake zimepotoka humdharau Mungu.
He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
3 Mazungumzo ya mpumbavu huleta fimbo mgongoni mwake, bali mwenye hekima hulindwa na maneno ya midomo yake.
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
4 Pale ambapo hakuna mafahali, hori ni tupu, bali kutokana na nguvu za fahali huja mavuno mengi.
Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 Shahidi mwaminifu hadanganyi, bali shahidi wa uongo humimina uongo.
A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness uttereth lies.
6 Mwenye mzaha huitafuta hekima na haipati, bali maarifa huja kwa urahisi kwa anayepambanua.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and [findeth it] not: but knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
7 Kaa mbali na mtu mpumbavu, kwa maana hutapata maarifa katika midomo yake.
Go into the presence of a foolish man, and thou shalt not perceive [in him] the lips of knowledge.
8 Hekima ya mwenye busara ni kufikiria njia zake, bali upumbavu wa wapumbavu ni udanganyifu.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Wapumbavu hudhihaki kujirekebisha kutoka dhambi, bali wema hupatikana miongoni mwa wanyofu.
The foolish make a mock at guilt: but among the upright there is good will.
10 Kila moyo hujua uchungu wake wenyewe, wala hakuna yeyote awezaye kushiriki furaha yake.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
11 Nyumba ya mwovu itaangamizwa, bali hema la mnyofu litastawi.
The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tent of the upright shall flourish.
12 Iko njia ionekanayo kuwa sawa kwa mtu, bali mwisho wake huelekeza mautini.
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13 Hata katika kicheko moyo waweza kuuma, nayo furaha yaweza kuishia katika majonzi.
Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of mirth is heaviness.
14 Wasio na imani watapatilizwa kikamilifu kwa ajili ya njia zao, naye mtu mwema atapewa thawabu kwa ajili ya njia yake.
The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man [shall be satisfied] from himself.
15 Mtu mjinga huamini kila kitu, bali mwenye busara hufikiria hatua zake.
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
16 Mtu mwenye hekima humcha Bwana na kuepuka mabaya, bali mpumbavu hukasirika kwa hamaki na uzembe.
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
17 Mtu anayekasirika kwa haraka hufanya mambo ya upumbavu, naye mtu wa hila huchukiwa.
He that is soon angry will deal foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Mjinga hurithi upumbavu, bali wenye busara huvikwa maarifa kichwani kama taji.
The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 Watu wabaya watasujudu mbele ya watu wema, nao waovu kwenye malango ya wenye haki.
The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 Maskini huepukwa hata na majirani zao, bali matajiri wana marafiki wengi.
The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
21 Yeye anayemdharau jirani yake hutenda dhambi, bali amebarikiwa yeye aliye na huruma kwa mhitaji.
He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
22 Je, wale wanaopanga ubaya hawapotoki? Bali wale wanaopanga kilicho chema hupata upendo na uaminifu.
Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth [shall be to] them that devise good.
23 Kazi zote zinazofanywa kwa bidii huleta faida, bali mazungumzo matupu huelekea umaskini tu.
In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to penury.
24 Utajiri wa wenye hekima ni taji yao, bali upumbavu wa wapumbavu huzaa upumbavu.
The crown of the wise is their riches: [but] the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 Shahidi wa kweli huokoa maisha, bali shahidi wa uongo ni mdanganyifu.
A true witness delivereth souls: but he that uttereth lies [causeth] deceit.
26 Yeye amchaye Bwana ana ngome salama, na kwa watoto wake itakuwa kimbilio.
In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
27 Kumcha Bwana ni chemchemi ya uzima, ili kumwepusha mtu na mitego ya mauti.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
28 Wingi wa watu ni utukufu wa mfalme, bali pasipo watu mkuu huangamia.
In the multitude of people is the king’s glory: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 Mtu mwenye subira ana ufahamu mwingi, bali anayekasirika haraka huonyesha upumbavu.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
30 Moyo wenye amani huupa mwili uzima, bali wivu huozesha mifupa.
A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 Yeye amwoneaye maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wao, bali yeyote anayemhurumia mhitaji humheshimu Mungu.
He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that hath mercy on the needy honoureth him.
32 Waovu huangamizwa kwa matendo yao maovu, bali hata katika kifo wenye haki hupata kimbilio.
The wicked is thrust down in his evil-doing: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
33 Hekima hukaa katika moyo wa mwenye ufahamu bali haijulikani miongoni mwa wapumbavu.
Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but [that which is] in the inward part of fools is made known.
34 Haki huinua taifa, bali dhambi ni aibu kwa watu wote.
Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
35 Mfalme hupendezwa na mtumishi mwenye hekima, bali ghadhabu yake humwangukia mtumishi mwenye kuaibisha.
The king’s favour is toward a servant that dealeth wisely: but his wrath shall be [against] him that causeth shame.
