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 ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
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] Jehovah.
4 Mtu mwovu husikiliza midomo mibaya; mwongo husikiliza kwa makini ulimi wa madhara.
An evil doer 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.
Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso 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!
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
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, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Yeye anayesamehe kosa hudumisha upendo, bali yeyote arudiaye jambo hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Karipio humwingia sana mtu mwenye kutambua kuliko mapigo mia kwa mpumbavu.
Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
11 Mtu mbaya hupenda kuasi tu; mjumbe asiye na huruma atatumwa dhidi yake.
An evil man seeketh 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.
Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not 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 before it is meddled with leave the strife.
15 Yeye asemaye kuwa asiye na haki ana haki, naye asemaye kuwa mwenye haki hana haki: Bwana huwachukia sana wote wawili.
Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
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.
At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
18 Mtu mjinga hupana mkono ili kuweka rehani, naye huweka dhamana kwa jirani yake.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
19 Yeye apendaye ugomvi apenda dhambi; naye ainuaye sana lango lake hutafuta uharibifu.
Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
20 Mtu mwenye moyo mpotovu hawezi kufanikiwa; naye ambaye ulimi wake ni mdanganyifu huanguka kwenye taabu.
The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
21 Kuwa na mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni; hakuna furaha kwa baba wa mpumbavu.
Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
22 Moyo wenye furaha ni dawa nzuri, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa kwa siri ili kupotosha njia ya haki.
A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, 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 provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Si vizuri kumwadhibu mtu asiye na hatia, au kuwapiga sana maafisa kwa ajili ya uadilifu wao.
Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite 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 intelligent!
