Mithali 17
1 Afadhali kula ukoko mkavu ukiwa na amani na utulivu kuliko kukaa kwenye nyumba ya karamu kukiwa na magomvi.
Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
2 Mtumishi mwenye hekima atatawala juu ya mwana aaibishaye, naye atashirikiana katika urithi kama mmoja wa hao ndugu.
A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
3 Kalibu ni kwa ajili ya fedha na tanuru ni kwa ajili ya dhahabu, bali Bwana huujaribu moyo.
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
4 Mtu mwovu husikiliza midomo mibaya; mwongo husikiliza kwa makini ulimi wa madhara.
A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
5 Yeye anaye mdhihaki maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wake; yeyote afurahiaye maafa hataepuka kuadhibiwa.
Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
6 Wana wa wana ni taji la wazee, nao wazazi ni fahari ya watoto wao.
Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Midomo yenye uwezo wa ushawishi haimfai mpumbavu: je, ni mibaya kiasi gani zaidi midomo ya uongo kwa mtawala!
Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
8 Kipawa ni kama kito cha thamani machoni pake yeye aliye nacho; kokote kigeukiapo, hufanikiwa.
An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
9 Yeye anayesamehe kosa hudumisha upendo, bali yeyote arudiaye jambo hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
10 Karipio humwingia sana mtu mwenye kutambua kuliko mapigo mia kwa mpumbavu.
A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
11 Mtu mbaya hupenda kuasi tu; mjumbe asiye na huruma atatumwa dhidi yake.
An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
12 Ni afadhali ukutane na dubu aliyenyangʼanywa watoto wake, kuliko mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
13 Ikiwa mtu atalipa baya kwa jema, kamwe ubaya hautaondoka katika nyumba yake.
If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
14 Kuanzisha ugomvi ni kama kutoboa bwawa la maji; kwa hiyo acha jambo hilo kabla mabishano hayajaanza.
The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
15 Yeye asemaye kuwa asiye na haki ana haki, naye asemaye kuwa mwenye haki hana haki: Bwana huwachukia sana wote wawili.
He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
16 Fedha ina faida gani mikononi mwa mpumbavu, wakati yeye hana haja ya kupata hekima?
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
17 Rafiki hupenda wakati wote naye ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya wakati wa shida.
A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
18 Mtu mjinga hupana mkono ili kuweka rehani, naye huweka dhamana kwa jirani yake.
A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
19 Yeye apendaye ugomvi apenda dhambi; naye ainuaye sana lango lake hutafuta uharibifu.
The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
20 Mtu mwenye moyo mpotovu hawezi kufanikiwa; naye ambaye ulimi wake ni mdanganyifu huanguka kwenye taabu.
Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
21 Kuwa na mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni; hakuna furaha kwa baba wa mpumbavu.
He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
22 Moyo wenye furaha ni dawa nzuri, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa kwa siri ili kupotosha njia ya haki.
A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
24 Mtu wa ufahamu huitazama hekima, lakini macho ya mpumbavu huhangaika hadi kwenye miisho ya dunia.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 Mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa yeye aliyemzaa.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
26 Si vizuri kumwadhibu mtu asiye na hatia, au kuwapiga sana maafisa kwa ajili ya uadilifu wao.
To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
27 Mtu mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno kwa kujizuia, naye mtu mwenye ufahamu ana moyo wa utulivu.
He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
28 Hata mtu mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na hekima kama akinyamaza, na mwenye ufahamu kama akiuzuia ulimi wake.
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
