Mithali 18
1 Mtu ajitengaye na wengine hufuata matakwa yake mwenyewe; hupiga vita kila shauri jema.
He who desires to separate himself seeks excuses, and rages against all sound wisdom.
2 Mpumbavu hafurahii ufahamu, bali hufurahia kutangaza maoni yake mwenyewe.
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may reveal itself.
3 Wakati uovu unapokuja, dharau huja pia, pamoja na aibu huja lawama.
When a wicked man comes, contempt also comes, and with disgrace, reproach.
4 Maneno ya kinywa cha mwanadamu ni kina cha maji, bali chemchemi ya hekima ni kijito kinachobubujika.
The words of a man's mouth are deep waters. The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 Sio vizuri kumpendelea mtu mwovu, au kumnyima haki asiye na hatia.
To respect the person of a wicked man is not good, nor to turn aside a righteous man in judgment.
6 Midomo ya mpumbavu humletea ugomvi na kinywa chake hualika kipigo.
A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calls for stripes.
7 Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na midomo yake ni mtego kwa nafsi yake.
A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu; huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts.
9 Mtu aliye mlegevu katika kazi yake ni ndugu na yule anayeharibu.
He also that is slack in his work is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10 Jina la Bwana ni ngome imara, wenye haki huikimbilia na kuwa salama.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower. A righteous man runs into it, and is safe.
11 Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake wenye ngome, wanaudhania kuwa ukuta usioweza kurukwa.
The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Kabla ya anguko moyo wa mtu hujaa kiburi, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia heshima.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
13 Yeye ajibuye kabla ya kusikiliza, huo ni upumbavu wake na aibu yake.
He who gives answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
14 Roho ya mtu itastahimili katika ugonjwa bali roho iliyovunjika ni nani awezaye kuistahimili?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity, but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 Moyo wa mwenye ufahamu hujipatia maarifa, masikio ya mwenye hekima huyatafuta maarifa.
The heart of a prudent man gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 Zawadi humfungulia njia mtoaji, nayo humleta mbele ya wakuu.
A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
17 Yeye aliye wa kwanza kuleta mashtaka huonekana sahihi, hadi mwingine ajitokezapo na kumuuliza maswali.
He who pleads his case first seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him out.
18 Kupiga kura hukomesha mashindano na kutenganisha wapinzani wakuu wanaopingana.
The lot causes contentions to cease, and decides between the mighty.
19 Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kuridhika kuliko mji uliozungushiwa ngome, nayo mabishano ni kama malango ya ngome yenye makomeo.
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and such contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 Tumbo la mtu litajaa kutokana na tunda la kinywa chake, atashibishwa mavuno yanayotokana na midomo yake.
A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the increase of his lips he shall be satisfied.
21 Mauti na uzima viko katika uwezo wa ulimi, nao waupendao watakula matunda yake.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat the fruit of it.
22 Apataye mke apata kitu chema naye ajipatia kibali kwa Bwana.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.
23 Mtu maskini huomba kuhurumiwa bali tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
A poor man uses entreaties, but a rich man answers roughly.
24 Mtu mwenye marafiki wengi wanaweza kumharibu, bali yuko rafiki aambatanaye na mtu kwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
He who makes many friends does it to his own destruction, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
