Mithali 16
1 Mipango ya moyoni ni ya mwanadamu, bali jibu la ulimi hutoka kwa Bwana.
The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
2 Njia zote za mtu huonekana safi machoni pake mwenyewe, bali makusudi hupimwa na Bwana.
All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales.
3 Mkabidhi Bwana lolote ufanyalo, nayo mipango yako itafanikiwa.
Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain.
4 Bwana hufanya kila kitu kwa kusudi lake mwenyewe; hata waovu kwa siku ya maangamizi.
The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil.
5 Bwana huwachukia sana wote wenye kiburi cha moyo. Uwe na hakika kwa hili: Hawataepuka kuadhibiwa.
Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.
6 Kwa upendo na uaminifu uovu huondolewa; kwa kumcha Bwana mtu hujiepusha na ubaya.
By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil.
7 Njia za mtu zinapompendeza Bwana, huwafanya hata adui zake waishi naye kwa amani.
When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him.
8 Afadhali kitu kidogo pamoja na haki kuliko mapato mengi pamoja na udhalimu.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing.
9 Moyo wa mtu huifikiri njia yake, bali Bwana huelekeza hatua zake.
A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps.
10 Midomo ya mfalme huzungumza kwa hekima ya kiungu, wala kinywa chake hakipotoshi haki.
Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging.
11 Vipimo na mizani za halali hutoka kwa Bwana; mawe yote ya kupimia yaliyo katika mfuko ameyafanya yeye.
True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work.
12 Wafalme huchukia sana kutenda maovu, kwa maana kiti cha ufalme hufanywa imara kwa njia ya haki.
Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness.
13 Wafalme hufurahia midomo ya uaminifu; humthamini mtu asemaye kweli.
Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.
14 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni mjumbe wa mauti, bali mtu mwenye hekima ataituliza.
The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.
15 Uso wa mfalme ungʼaapo, inamaanisha uhai; upendeleo wake ni kama wingu la mvua wakati wa vuli.
In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain.
16 Ni bora kiasi gani kupata hekima kuliko dhahabu, kuchagua ufahamu kuliko fedha!
How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver.
17 Njia kuu ya wanyofu huepuka ubaya; yeye aichungaye njia yake, huchunga maisha yake.
The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.
18 Kiburi hutangulia maangamizi, roho ya majivuno hutangulia maanguko.
Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall.
19 Ni afadhali kuwa mnyenyekevu katika roho miongoni mwa walioonewa kuliko kugawana nyara pamoja na wenye kiburi.
Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride.
20 Yeyote anayekubali mafundisho hustawi, tena amebarikiwa yeye anayemtumaini Bwana.
He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.
21 Wenye hekima moyoni huitwa wenye ufahamu, na maneno ya kupendeza huchochea mafundisho.
The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased.
22 Ufahamu ni chemchemi ya uzima kwa wale walio nao, bali upumbavu huleta adhabu kwa wapumbavu.
Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.
23 Moyo wa mtu mwenye hekima huongoza kinywa chake, na midomo yake huchochea mafundisho.
The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips.
24 Maneno ya kupendeza ni kama sega la asali, ni matamu kwa nafsi na uponyaji kwenye mifupa.
Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.
25 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.
26 Shauku ya mfanyakazi humhimiza kufanya kazi; njaa yake humsukuma aendelee.
The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on.
27 Mtu mbaya kabisa hupanga mabaya, maneno yake ni kama moto uunguzao.
A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire.
28 Mtu mpotovu huchochea ugomvi, nayo maongezi ya upuzi hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.
29 Mtu mkali humvuta jirani yake na kumwongoza katika mapito yale mabaya.
A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good.
30 Yeye akonyezaye kwa jicho lake anapanga upotovu; naye akazaye midomo yake amenuia mabaya.
He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.
31 Mvi ni taji ya utukufu; hupatikana kwa maisha ya uadilifu.
The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness.
32 Ni afadhali mtu mstahimilivu kuliko shujaa, mtu anayeitawala hasira yake kuliko yule autekaye mji.
He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.
33 Kura hupigwa kwa siri, lakini kila uamuzi wake hutoka kwa Bwana.
A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
