Mithali 16
1 Mipango ya moyoni ni ya mwanadamu, bali jibu la ulimi hutoka kwa Bwana.
The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, [is] from the LORD.
2 Njia zote za mtu huonekana safi machoni pake mwenyewe, bali makusudi hupimwa na Bwana.
All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
3 Mkabidhi Bwana lolote ufanyalo, nayo mipango yako itafanikiwa.
Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
4 Bwana hufanya kila kitu kwa kusudi lake mwenyewe; hata waovu kwa siku ya maangamizi.
The LORD hath made all [things] for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5 Bwana huwachukia sana wote wenye kiburi cha moyo. Uwe na hakika kwa hili: Hawataepuka kuadhibiwa.
Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD: [though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
6 Kwa upendo na uaminifu uovu huondolewa; kwa kumcha Bwana mtu hujiepusha na ubaya.
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: 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 a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to 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 revenues without right.
9 Moyo wa mtu huifikiri njia yake, bali Bwana huelekeza hatua zake.
A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
10 Midomo ya mfalme huzungumza kwa hekima ya kiungu, wala kinywa chake hakipotoshi haki.
A divine sentence [is] in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
11 Vipimo na mizani za halali hutoka kwa Bwana; mawe yote ya kupimia yaliyo katika mfuko ameyafanya yeye.
A just weight and balance [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.
[It is] an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
13 Wafalme hufurahia midomo ya uaminifu; humthamini mtu asemaye kweli.
Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
14 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni mjumbe wa mauti, bali mtu mwenye hekima ataituliza.
The wrath of a king [is as] messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify 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 countenance [is] life; and his favour [is] as a cloud of the latter rain.
16 Ni bora kiasi gani kupata hekima kuliko dhahabu, kuchagua ufahamu kuliko fedha!
How much better [is it] to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
17 Njia kuu ya wanyofu huepuka ubaya; yeye aichungaye njia yake, huchunga maisha yake.
The highway of the upright [is] to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Kiburi hutangulia maangamizi, roho ya majivuno hutangulia maanguko.
Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty 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 be] of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Yeyote anayekubali mafundisho hustawi, tena amebarikiwa yeye anayemtumaini Bwana.
He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy [is] he.
21 Wenye hekima moyoni huitwa wenye ufahamu, na maneno ya kupendeza huchochea mafundisho.
The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
22 Ufahamu ni chemchemi ya uzima kwa wale walio nao, bali upumbavu huleta adhabu kwa wapumbavu.
Understanding [is] a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools [is] folly.
23 Moyo wa mtu mwenye hekima huongoza kinywa chake, na midomo yake huchochea mafundisho.
The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
24 Maneno ya kupendeza ni kama sega la asali, ni matamu kwa nafsi na uponyaji kwenye mifupa.
Pleasant words [are as] an 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 right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.
26 Shauku ya mfanyakazi humhimiza kufanya kazi; njaa yake humsukuma aendelee.
He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
27 Mtu mbaya kabisa hupanga mabaya, maneno yake ni kama moto uunguzao.
An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips [there is] as a burning fire.
28 Mtu mpotovu huchochea ugomvi, nayo maongezi ya upuzi hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
29 Mtu mkali humvuta jirani yake na kumwongoza katika mapito yale mabaya.
A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way [that is] not good.
30 Yeye akonyezaye kwa jicho lake anapanga upotovu; naye akazaye midomo yake amenuia mabaya.
He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
31 Mvi ni taji ya utukufu; hupatikana kwa maisha ya uadilifu.
The hoary head [is] a crown of glory, [if] it be found in the way of righteousness.
32 Ni afadhali mtu mstahimilivu kuliko shujaa, mtu anayeitawala hasira yake kuliko yule autekaye mji.
[He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
33 Kura hupigwa kwa siri, lakini kila uamuzi wake hutoka kwa Bwana.
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof [is] of the LORD.
