Mithali 17
1 Afadhali kula ukoko mkavu ukiwa na amani na utulivu kuliko kukaa kwenye nyumba ya karamu kukiwa na magomvi.
It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 Mtumishi mwenye hekima atatawala juu ya mwana aaibishaye, naye atashirikiana katika urithi kama mmoja wa hao ndugu.
A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 Kalibu ni kwa ajili ya fedha na tanuru ni kwa ajili ya dhahabu, bali Bwana huujaribu moyo.
The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
4 Mtu mwovu husikiliza midomo mibaya; mwongo husikiliza kwa makini ulimi wa madhara.
The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Yeye anaye mdhihaki maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wake; yeyote afurahiaye maafa hataepuka kuadhibiwa.
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.
6 Wana wa wana ni taji la wazee, nao wazazi ni fahari ya watoto wao.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.
7 Midomo yenye uwezo wa ushawishi haimfai mpumbavu: je, ni mibaya kiasi gani zaidi midomo ya uongo kwa mtawala!
Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
8 Kipawa ni kama kito cha thamani machoni pake yeye aliye nacho; kokote kigeukiapo, hufanikiwa.
A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 Yeye anayesamehe kosa hudumisha upendo, bali yeyote arudiaye jambo hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
10 Karipio humwingia sana mtu mwenye kutambua kuliko mapigo mia kwa mpumbavu.
A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
11 Mtu mbaya hupenda kuasi tu; mjumbe asiye na huruma atatumwa dhidi yake.
An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Ni afadhali ukutane na dubu aliyenyangʼanywa watoto wake, kuliko mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.
13 Ikiwa mtu atalipa baya kwa jema, kamwe ubaya hautaondoka katika nyumba yake.
When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 Kuanzisha ugomvi ni kama kutoboa bwawa la maji; kwa hiyo acha jambo hilo kabla mabishano hayajaanza.
The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.
15 Yeye asemaye kuwa asiye na haki ana haki, naye asemaye kuwa mwenye haki hana haki: Bwana huwachukia sana wote wawili.
The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Fedha ina faida gani mikononi mwa mpumbavu, wakati yeye hana haja ya kupata hekima?
Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
17 Rafiki hupenda wakati wote naye ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya wakati wa shida.
A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
18 Mtu mjinga hupana mkono ili kuweka rehani, naye huweka dhamana kwa jirani yake.
A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
19 Yeye apendaye ugomvi apenda dhambi; naye ainuaye sana lango lake hutafuta uharibifu.
Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
20 Mtu mwenye moyo mpotovu hawezi kufanikiwa; naye ambaye ulimi wake ni mdanganyifu huanguka kwenye taabu.
A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 Kuwa na mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni; hakuna furaha kwa baba wa mpumbavu.
Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 Moyo wenye furaha ni dawa nzuri, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa kwa siri ili kupotosha njia ya haki.
A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Mtu wa ufahamu huitazama hekima, lakini macho ya mpumbavu huhangaika hadi kwenye miisho ya dunia.
The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set 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 bitterness to the woman who bore him.
26 Si vizuri kumwadhibu mtu asiye na hatia, au kuwapiga sana maafisa kwa ajili ya uadilifu wao.
Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
27 Mtu mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno kwa kujizuia, naye mtu mwenye ufahamu ana moyo wa utulivu.
One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Hata mtu mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na hekima kama akinyamaza, na mwenye ufahamu kama akiuzuia ulimi wake.
Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
