Mithali 18
1 Mtu ajitengaye na wengine hufuata matakwa yake mwenyewe; hupiga vita kila shauri jema.
He that hath a mind to depart from a friend seeketh occasions: he shall ever be subject to reproach.
2 Mpumbavu hafurahii ufahamu, bali hufurahia kutangaza maoni yake mwenyewe.
A fool receiveth not the words of prudence: unless thou say those things which are in his heart.
3 Wakati uovu unapokuja, dharau huja pia, pamoja na aibu huja lawama.
The wicked man when he is come into the depth of sins, contemneth: but ignominy and reproach follow him.
4 Maneno ya kinywa cha mwanadamu ni kina cha maji, bali chemchemi ya hekima ni kijito kinachobubujika.
Words from the mouth of a men are as deep water: and the fountain of wisdom as an overflowing stream.
5 Sio vizuri kumpendelea mtu mwovu, au kumnyima haki asiye na hatia.
It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to decline from the truth of judgment.
6 Midomo ya mpumbavu humletea ugomvi na kinywa chake hualika kipigo.
The lips of a fool intermeddle with strife: and his mouth provoketh quarrels.
7 Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na midomo yake ni mtego kwa nafsi yake.
The mouth of a fool is his destruction: and his lips are the ruin of his soul.
8 Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu; huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.
The words of the double tongued are as if they were harmless: and they reach even to the inner parts of the bowels. Fear casteth down the slothful: and the souls of the effeminate shall be hungry.
9 Mtu aliye mlegevu katika kazi yake ni ndugu na yule anayeharibu.
He that is loose and slack in his work, is the brother of him that wasteth his own works.
10 Jina la Bwana ni ngome imara, wenye haki huikimbilia na kuwa salama.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the just runneth to it, and shall be exalted.
11 Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake wenye ngome, wanaudhania kuwa ukuta usioweza kurukwa.
The substance of the rich man is the city of his strength, and as a strong wall compassing him about.
12 Kabla ya anguko moyo wa mtu hujaa kiburi, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia heshima.
Before destruction, the heart of a man is exalted: and before he be glorified, it is humbled.
13 Yeye ajibuye kabla ya kusikiliza, huo ni upumbavu wake na aibu yake.
He that answereth before he heareth sheweth himself to be a fool, and worthy of confusion.
14 Roho ya mtu itastahimili katika ugonjwa bali roho iliyovunjika ni nani awezaye kuistahimili?
The spirit of a man upholdeth his infirmity: but a spirit that is easily angered, who can bear?
15 Moyo wa mwenye ufahamu hujipatia maarifa, masikio ya mwenye hekima huyatafuta maarifa.
A wise heart shall acquire knowledge: and the ear of the wise seeketh instruction.
16 Zawadi humfungulia njia mtoaji, nayo humleta mbele ya wakuu.
A man’s gift enlargeth his may, and maketh him room before princes.
17 Yeye aliye wa kwanza kuleta mashtaka huonekana sahihi, hadi mwingine ajitokezapo na kumuuliza maswali.
The just is first accuser of himself: his friend cometh, and shall search him.
18 Kupiga kura hukomesha mashindano na kutenganisha wapinzani wakuu wanaopingana.
The lot suppresseth contentions, and determineth even between the mighty.
19 Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kuridhika kuliko mji uliozungushiwa ngome, nayo mabishano ni kama malango ya ngome yenye makomeo.
A brother that is helped by his brother, is like a strong city: and judgments are like the bars of cities.
20 Tumbo la mtu litajaa kutokana na tunda la kinywa chake, atashibishwa mavuno yanayotokana na midomo yake.
Of the fruit of a man’s mouth shall his belly be satisfied: and the offspring of his lips shall fill him.
21 Mauti na uzima viko katika uwezo wa ulimi, nao waupendao watakula matunda yake.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: they that love it, shall eat the fruits thereof.
22 Apataye mke apata kitu chema naye ajipatia kibali kwa Bwana.
He that hath found a good wife, hath found a good thing, and shall receive a pleasure from the Lord. He that driveth away a good wife, driveth away a good thing: but he that keepeth an adulteress, is foolish and wicked.
23 Mtu maskini huomba kuhurumiwa bali tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
The poor will speak with supplications, and the rich will speak roughly.
24 Mtu mwenye marafiki wengi wanaweza kumharibu, bali yuko rafiki aambatanaye na mtu kwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
A man amiable in society, shall be more friendly than a brother.
