Mithali 16
1 Mipango ya moyoni ni ya mwanadamu, bali jibu la ulimi hutoka kwa Bwana.
It is the part of man to prepare the soul: and of the Lord to govern the tongue.
2 Njia zote za mtu huonekana safi machoni pake mwenyewe, bali makusudi hupimwa na Bwana.
All the ways of a man are open to his eyes: the Lord is the weigher of spirits.
3 Mkabidhi Bwana lolote ufanyalo, nayo mipango yako itafanikiwa.
Lay open thy works to the Lord: and thy thoughts shall be directed.
4 Bwana hufanya kila kitu kwa kusudi lake mwenyewe; hata waovu kwa siku ya maangamizi.
The Lord hath made all things for himself: the wicked also for the evil day.
5 Bwana huwachukia sana wote wenye kiburi cha moyo. Uwe na hakika kwa hili: Hawataepuka kuadhibiwa.
Every proud man is an abomination to the Lord: though hand should be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice; and this is more acceptable with God, than to offer sacrifices.
6 Kwa upendo na uaminifu uovu huondolewa; kwa kumcha Bwana mtu hujiepusha na ubaya.
By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.
7 Njia za mtu zinapompendeza Bwana, huwafanya hata adui zake waishi naye kwa amani.
When the ways of man shall please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace.
8 Afadhali kitu kidogo pamoja na haki kuliko mapato mengi pamoja na udhalimu.
Better is a little with justice, than great revenues with iniquity.
9 Moyo wa mtu huifikiri njia yake, bali Bwana huelekeza hatua zake.
The heart of man disposeth his way: but the Lord must direct his steps.
10 Midomo ya mfalme huzungumza kwa hekima ya kiungu, wala kinywa chake hakipotoshi haki.
Divination is in the lips of the king, his mouth shall not err in judgment.
11 Vipimo na mizani za halali hutoka kwa Bwana; mawe yote ya kupimia yaliyo katika mfuko ameyafanya yeye.
Weight and balance are judgments of the Lord: and his work all the weights of the bag.
12 Wafalme huchukia sana kutenda maovu, kwa maana kiti cha ufalme hufanywa imara kwa njia ya haki.
They that act wickedly are abominable to the king: for the throne is established by justice.
13 Wafalme hufurahia midomo ya uaminifu; humthamini mtu asemaye kweli.
Just lips are the delight of kings: he that speaketh right things shall be loved.
14 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni mjumbe wa mauti, bali mtu mwenye hekima ataituliza.
The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: and the wise man will pacify it.
15 Uso wa mfalme ungʼaapo, inamaanisha uhai; upendeleo wake ni kama wingu la mvua wakati wa vuli.
In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance is life: and his clemency is like the latter rain.
16 Ni bora kiasi gani kupata hekima kuliko dhahabu, kuchagua ufahamu kuliko fedha!
Get wisdom, because it is better than gold: and purchase prudence, for it is more precious than silver.
17 Njia kuu ya wanyofu huepuka ubaya; yeye aichungaye njia yake, huchunga maisha yake.
The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.
18 Kiburi hutangulia maangamizi, roho ya majivuno hutangulia maanguko.
Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.
19 Ni afadhali kuwa mnyenyekevu katika roho miongoni mwa walioonewa kuliko kugawana nyara pamoja na wenye kiburi.
It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.
20 Yeyote anayekubali mafundisho hustawi, tena amebarikiwa yeye anayemtumaini Bwana.
The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.
21 Wenye hekima moyoni huitwa wenye ufahamu, na maneno ya kupendeza huchochea mafundisho.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.
22 Ufahamu ni chemchemi ya uzima kwa wale walio nao, bali upumbavu huleta adhabu kwa wapumbavu.
Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.
23 Moyo wa mtu mwenye hekima huongoza kinywa chake, na midomo yake huchochea mafundisho.
The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.
24 Maneno ya kupendeza ni kama sega la asali, ni matamu kwa nafsi na uponyaji kwenye mifupa.
Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
25 Iko njia ionekanayo kuwa sawa kwa mtu, bali mwisho wake huelekeza mautini.
There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.
26 Shauku ya mfanyakazi humhimiza kufanya kazi; njaa yake humsukuma aendelee.
The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.
27 Mtu mbaya kabisa hupanga mabaya, maneno yake ni kama moto uunguzao.
The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.
28 Mtu mpotovu huchochea ugomvi, nayo maongezi ya upuzi hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.
29 Mtu mkali humvuta jirani yake na kumwongoza katika mapito yale mabaya.
An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.
30 Yeye akonyezaye kwa jicho lake anapanga upotovu; naye akazaye midomo yake amenuia mabaya.
He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.
31 Mvi ni taji ya utukufu; hupatikana kwa maisha ya uadilifu.
Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.
32 Ni afadhali mtu mstahimilivu kuliko shujaa, mtu anayeitawala hasira yake kuliko yule autekaye mji.
The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.
33 Kura hupigwa kwa siri, lakini kila uamuzi wake hutoka kwa Bwana.
Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.
