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 quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
2 Mtumishi mwenye hekima atatawala juu ya mwana aaibishaye, naye atashirikiana katika urithi kama mmoja wa hao ndugu.
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Kalibu ni kwa ajili ya fedha na tanuru ni kwa ajili ya dhahabu, bali Bwana huujaribu moyo.
The fining-pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Mtu mwovu husikiliza midomo mibaya; mwongo husikiliza kwa makini ulimi wa madhara.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips: [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Yeye anaye mdhihaki maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wake; yeyote afurahiaye maafa hataepuka kuadhibiwa.
He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
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!
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Kipawa ni kama kito cha thamani machoni pake yeye aliye nacho; kokote kigeukiapo, hufanikiwa.
A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Yeye anayesamehe kosa hudumisha upendo, bali yeyote arudiaye jambo hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 Karipio humwingia sana mtu mwenye kutambua kuliko mapigo mia kwa mpumbavu.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Mtu mbaya hupenda kuasi tu; mjumbe asiye na huruma atatumwa dhidi yake.
An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Ni afadhali ukutane na dubu aliyenyangʼanywa watoto wake, kuliko mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Ikiwa mtu atalipa baya kwa jema, kamwe ubaya hautaondoka katika nyumba yake.
Whoever rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Kuanzisha ugomvi ni kama kutoboa bwawa la maji; kwa hiyo acha jambo hilo kabla mabishano hayajaanza.
The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
15 Yeye asemaye kuwa asiye na haki ana haki, naye asemaye kuwa mwenye haki hana haki: Bwana huwachukia sana wote wawili.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
16 Fedha ina faida gani mikononi mwa mpumbavu, wakati yeye hana haja ya kupata hekima?
Why [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17 Rafiki hupenda wakati wote naye ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya wakati wa shida.
A friend loveth 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 void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Yeye apendaye ugomvi apenda dhambi; naye ainuaye sana lango lake hutafuta uharibifu.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 Mtu mwenye moyo mpotovu hawezi kufanikiwa; naye ambaye ulimi wake ni mdanganyifu huanguka kwenye taabu.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 Kuwa na mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni; hakuna furaha kwa baba wa mpumbavu.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 Moyo wenye furaha ni dawa nzuri, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa kwa siri ili kupotosha njia ya haki.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Mtu wa ufahamu huitazama hekima, lakini macho ya mpumbavu huhangaika hadi kwenye miisho ya dunia.
Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in 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 her that bore him.
26 Si vizuri kumwadhibu mtu asiye na hatia, au kuwapiga sana maafisa kwa ajili ya uadilifu wao.
Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
27 Mtu mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno kwa kujizuia, naye mtu mwenye ufahamu ana moyo wa utulivu.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Hata mtu mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na hekima kama akinyamaza, na mwenye ufahamu kama akiuzuia ulimi wake.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
