Mithali 17
1 Afadhali kula ukoko mkavu ukiwa na amani na utulivu kuliko kukaa kwenye nyumba ya karamu kukiwa na magomvi.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
2 Mtumishi mwenye hekima atatawala juu ya mwana aaibishaye, naye atashirikiana katika urithi kama mmoja wa hao ndugu.
A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
3 Kalibu ni kwa ajili ya fedha na tanuru ni kwa ajili ya dhahabu, bali Bwana huujaribu moyo.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
4 Mtu mwovu husikiliza midomo mibaya; mwongo husikiliza kwa makini ulimi wa madhara.
An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Yeye anaye mdhihaki maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wake; yeyote afurahiaye maafa hataepuka kuadhibiwa.
Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Wana wa wana ni taji la wazee, nao wazazi ni fahari ya watoto wao.
Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Midomo yenye uwezo wa ushawishi haimfai mpumbavu: je, ni mibaya kiasi gani zaidi midomo ya uongo kwa mtawala!
A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
8 Kipawa ni kama kito cha thamani machoni pake yeye aliye nacho; kokote kigeukiapo, hufanikiwa.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 Yeye anayesamehe kosa hudumisha upendo, bali yeyote arudiaye jambo hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Karipio humwingia sana mtu mwenye kutambua kuliko mapigo mia kwa mpumbavu.
Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
11 Mtu mbaya hupenda kuasi tu; mjumbe asiye na huruma atatumwa dhidi yake.
An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 Ni afadhali ukutane na dubu aliyenyangʼanywa watoto wake, kuliko mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
13 Ikiwa mtu atalipa baya kwa jema, kamwe ubaya hautaondoka katika nyumba yake.
Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
14 Kuanzisha ugomvi ni kama kutoboa bwawa la maji; kwa hiyo acha jambo hilo kabla mabishano hayajaanza.
The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
15 Yeye asemaye kuwa asiye na haki ana haki, naye asemaye kuwa mwenye haki hana haki: Bwana huwachukia sana wote wawili.
Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
16 Fedha ina faida gani mikononi mwa mpumbavu, wakati yeye hana haja ya kupata hekima?
Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
17 Rafiki hupenda wakati wote naye ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya wakati wa shida.
The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
18 Mtu mjinga hupana mkono ili kuweka rehani, naye huweka dhamana kwa jirani yake.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
19 Yeye apendaye ugomvi apenda dhambi; naye ainuaye sana lango lake hutafuta uharibifu.
Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
20 Mtu mwenye moyo mpotovu hawezi kufanikiwa; naye ambaye ulimi wake ni mdanganyifu huanguka kwenye taabu.
The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
21 Kuwa na mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni; hakuna furaha kwa baba wa mpumbavu.
Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
22 Moyo wenye furaha ni dawa nzuri, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa kwa siri ili kupotosha njia ya haki.
The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24 Mtu wa ufahamu huitazama hekima, lakini macho ya mpumbavu huhangaika hadi kwenye miisho ya dunia.
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end of the earth.
25 Mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa yeye aliyemzaa.
A foolish son [is] a provocation to his father, And bitterness to her bearing him.
26 Si vizuri kumwadhibu mtu asiye na hatia, au kuwapiga sana maafisa kwa ajili ya uadilifu wao.
Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
27 Mtu mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno kwa kujizuia, naye mtu mwenye ufahamu ana moyo wa utulivu.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
28 Hata mtu mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na hekima kama akinyamaza, na mwenye ufahamu kama akiuzuia ulimi wake.
Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
