Mithali 16
1 Mipango ya moyoni ni ya mwanadamu, bali jibu la ulimi hutoka kwa Bwana.
Arrangements of the heart [are] of man, An answer of the tongue from YHWH.
2 Njia zote za mtu huonekana safi machoni pake mwenyewe, bali makusudi hupimwa na Bwana.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, And YHWH is pondering the spirits.
3 Mkabidhi Bwana lolote ufanyalo, nayo mipango yako itafanikiwa.
Roll your works to YHWH, And your purposes are established,
4 Bwana hufanya kila kitu kwa kusudi lake mwenyewe; hata waovu kwa siku ya maangamizi.
YHWH has worked all things for Himself, And also the wicked—for a day of evil.
5 Bwana huwachukia sana wote wenye kiburi cha moyo. Uwe na hakika kwa hili: Hawataepuka kuadhibiwa.
Every proud one of heart [is] an abomination to YHWH, Hand to hand—he is not acquitted.
6 Kwa upendo na uaminifu uovu huondolewa; kwa kumcha Bwana mtu hujiepusha na ubaya.
Iniquity is pardoned in kindness and truth, And in the fear of YHWH Turn aside from evil.
7 Njia za mtu zinapompendeza Bwana, huwafanya hata adui zake waishi naye kwa amani.
When a man’s ways please YHWH, even his enemies, He causes 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 abundance of increase without justice.
9 Moyo wa mtu huifikiri njia yake, bali Bwana huelekeza hatua zake.
The heart of man devises his way, And YHWH establishes his step.
10 Midomo ya mfalme huzungumza kwa hekima ya kiungu, wala kinywa chake hakipotoshi haki.
An oath [is] on the lips of a king, In judgment his mouth does not trespass.
11 Vipimo na mizani za halali hutoka kwa Bwana; mawe yote ya kupimia yaliyo katika mfuko ameyafanya yeye.
A just beam and balances [are] YHWH’s, All the stones of the bag [are] His work.
12 Wafalme huchukia sana kutenda maovu, kwa maana kiti cha ufalme hufanywa imara kwa njia ya haki.
Doing wickedness [is] an abomination to kings, For a throne is established by righteousness.
13 Wafalme hufurahia midomo ya uaminifu; humthamini mtu asemaye kweli.
Righteous lips [are] the delight of kings, And he loves whoever is speaking uprightly,
14 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni mjumbe wa mauti, bali mtu mwenye hekima ataituliza.
The fury of a king [is] messengers of death, And a wise man pacifies it.
15 Uso wa mfalme ungʼaapo, inamaanisha uhai; upendeleo wake ni kama wingu la mvua wakati wa vuli.
In the light of a king’s face [is] life, And his goodwill [is] as a cloud of the spring rain.
16 Ni bora kiasi gani kupata hekima kuliko dhahabu, kuchagua ufahamu kuliko fedha!
To get wisdom—how much better than gold, And to get understanding—to be chosen [more] than silver!
17 Njia kuu ya wanyofu huepuka ubaya; yeye aichungaye njia yake, huchunga maisha yake.
A highway of the upright [is] to turn from evil, Whoever is preserving his soul is watching his way.
18 Kiburi hutangulia maangamizi, roho ya majivuno hutangulia maanguko.
Pride [is] before destruction, And before stumbling—a haughty spirit.
19 Ni afadhali kuwa mnyenyekevu katika roho miongoni mwa walioonewa kuliko kugawana nyara pamoja na wenye kiburi.
Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.
20 Yeyote anayekubali mafundisho hustawi, tena amebarikiwa yeye anayemtumaini Bwana.
The wise in any matter finds good, And whoever is trusting in YHWH, O his blessedness.
21 Wenye hekima moyoni huitwa wenye ufahamu, na maneno ya kupendeza huchochea mafundisho.
For the wise in heart is called intelligent, And sweetness of lips increases learning.
22 Ufahamu ni chemchemi ya uzima kwa wale walio nao, bali upumbavu huleta adhabu kwa wapumbavu.
Understanding [is] a fountain of life to its possessors, 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 causes his mouth to act wisely, And he increases learning by his lips,
24 Maneno ya kupendeza ni kama sega la asali, ni matamu kwa nafsi na uponyaji kwenye mifupa.
Sayings of pleasantness [are] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and healing to the bone.
25 Iko njia ionekanayo kuwa sawa kwa mtu, bali mwisho wake huelekeza mautini.
There is a way right before a man, And its latter end—ways of death.
26 Shauku ya mfanyakazi humhimiza kufanya kazi; njaa yake humsukuma aendelee.
A laboring man has labored for himself, For his mouth has caused [him] to bend over it.
27 Mtu mbaya kabisa hupanga mabaya, maneno yake ni kama moto uunguzao.
A worthless man is preparing evil, And on his lips [is] as a burning fire.
28 Mtu mpotovu huchochea ugomvi, nayo maongezi ya upuzi hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
A contrary man sends forth contention, A tale-bearer is separating a familiar friend.
29 Mtu mkali humvuta jirani yake na kumwongoza katika mapito yale mabaya.
A violent man entices his neighbor, And causes him to go in a way [that is] not good.
30 Yeye akonyezaye kwa jicho lake anapanga upotovu; naye akazaye midomo yake amenuia mabaya.
Consulting his eyes to devise contrary things, Moving his lips he has accomplished evil.
31 Mvi ni taji ya utukufu; hupatikana kwa maisha ya uadilifu.
Grey hairs [are] a crown of beauty, It is found in the way of righteousness.
32 Ni afadhali mtu mstahimilivu kuliko shujaa, mtu anayeitawala hasira yake kuliko yule autekaye mji.
Better [is] the [one] slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.
33 Kura hupigwa kwa siri, lakini kila uamuzi wake hutoka kwa Bwana.
The lot is cast into the center, And all its judgment [is] from YHWH!
