Mithali 15
1 Jawabu la upole hugeuza ghadhabu, bali neno liumizalo huchochea hasira.
A kind reply wards off anger, but hurtful words make people mad.
2 Ulimi wa mwenye hekima husifu maarifa, bali kinywa cha mpumbavu hufoka upumbavu.
What wise people say makes knowledge attractive, but stupid people talk a lot of nonsense.
3 Macho ya Bwana yako kila mahali, yakiwaangalia waovu na wema.
The Lord sees everywhere, watching the evil and the good.
4 Ulimi uletao uponyaji ni mti wa uzima, bali ulimi udanganyao huponda roho.
Gentle words are a source of life, but telling lies does a lot of damage.
5 Mpumbavu hubeza maonyo ya baba yake, bali yeyote akubaliye maonyo huonyesha busara.
Only a foolish son despises his father's instruction, but one who accepts correction is sensible.
6 Nyumba ya mwenye haki ina hazina kubwa, bali mapato ya waovu huwaletea taabu.
There's plenty of treasure where good people live, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
7 Midomo ya mwenye hekima hueneza maarifa, bali sivyo ilivyo mioyo ya wapumbavu.
Wise people share their knowledge, but stupid people don't think like that.
8 Bwana huchukia sana dhabihu za waovu, bali maombi ya wanyofu humfurahisha Mungu.
The Lord hates the sacrifices of the wicked, but he loves the prayers of the good.
9 Bwana huchukia sana njia ya waovu, bali huwapenda wale wafuatao haki.
The Lord hates the ways of the wicked, but he loves those who do what is right.
10 Adhabu kali humngoja yeye aachaye njia; yeye achukiaye maonyo atakufa.
If you leave the right path you will be severely disciplined; anyone who hates correction will die.
Those already dead have no secrets from the Lord—how much more does he know our thoughts! (Sheol h7585)
12 Mwenye mzaha huchukia maonyo; hatataka shauri kwa mwenye hekima.
Scoffers don't like to be corrected, so they don't go to the wise for advice.
13 Moyo wenye furaha hufanya uso uchangamke, bali maumivu ya moyoni huponda roho.
If you're happy inside, you'll have a cheerful face, but if you're sad, you look crushed.
14 Moyo wa mwenye ufahamu hutafuta maarifa, bali kinywa cha mpumbavu hujilisha upumbavu.
An insightful mind looks for knowledge, but stupid people feed on foolishness.
15 Siku zote za wanaoonewa ni za taabu, bali moyo mchangamfu una karamu ya kudumu.
The life of poor people is hard, but if you stay cheerful, it's a continual feast.
16 Afadhali kuwa na kidogo pamoja na kumcha Bwana, kuliko mali nyingi pamoja na ghasia.
It's better to respect the Lord and only have a little than to have plenty of money and the trouble that comes with it.
17 Afadhali chakula cha mboga mahali palipo na upendo kuliko nyama ya ndama iliyonona pamoja na chuki.
Better a dinner of vegetables where there's love than eating meat with hatred.
18 Mtu mwepesi wa hasira huchochea ugomvi, bali mtu mvumilivu hutuliza ugomvi.
Short-tempered people stir up trouble, but those slow to anger calm things down.
19 Njia ya mvivu imezibwa na miiba, bali njia ya mwenye haki ni barabara kuu.
The way of lazy people is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the good is an open highway.
20 Mwana mwenye hekima huleta furaha kwa baba yake, bali mtu mpumbavu humdharau mama yake.
A wise son makes his father happy, but a stupid man despises his mother.
21 Upumbavu humfurahisha mtu ambaye hana akili, bali mtu mwenye ufahamu hushika njia iliyonyooka.
Stupidity makes people with no sense happy, but sensible people do what is right.
22 Mipango hushindwa kufanikiwa kwa ajili ya kukosa ushauri, bali kukiwa na washauri wengi hufanikiwa.
Plans fall apart without good advice, but with plenty of advisors they're successful.
23 Mtu hupata furaha katika kutoa jibu linalofaa: je, ni zuri namna gani neno lililotoka kwa wakati wake!
A good answer makes people happy—it's great to say the right thing at the right moment!
24 Mapito ya uzima huelekea juu kwa ajili ya wenye hekima kumwepusha asiende chini kaburini. (Sheol h7585)
Life's path for the wise leads upwards, so that they can avoid the grave below. (Sheol h7585)
25 Bwana hubomoa nyumba ya mtu mwenye kiburi, bali huilinda mipaka ya mjane isiguswe.
The Lord pulls down the house of the proud, but he protects the boundaries of the widow's property.
26 Bwana huchukia sana mawazo ya mwovu, bali mawazo ya wale walio safi humfurahisha yeye.
The Lord hates the thoughts of the wicked, but he honors the words of the pure.
27 Mtu mwenye tamaa huletea jamaa yake taabu, bali yeye achukiaye rushwa ataishi.
People greedy for ill-gotten gains make trouble for their families, but those who hate bribes will live.
28 Moyo wa mwenye haki hupima majibu yake, bali kinywa cha mwovu hufoka ubaya.
Good people think how best to answer questions, but stupid people say all kinds of evil things.
29 Bwana yuko mbali na waovu, bali husikia maombi ya wenye haki.
The Lord keeps his distance from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the good.
30 Mtazamo wa tabasamu huleta furaha moyoni, nazo habari njema huipa mifupa afya.
Bright eyes make you happy, and good news makes you feel good.
31 Yeye asikilizaye maonyo yatoayo uzima atakuwa miongoni mwa wenye hekima.
If you pay attention to positive advice you'll be one of the wise.
32 Yeye anayedharau maonyo hujidharau mwenyewe, bali yeyote anayekubali maonyo hupata ufahamu.
If you ignore instruction you have no self-esteem, but if you listen to correction you gain understanding.
33 Kumcha Bwana humfundisha mtu hekima, nao unyenyekevu huja kabla ya heshima.
Respect for the Lord teaches wisdom; humility goes before honor.
