Mithali 18
1 Mtu ajitengaye na wengine hufuata matakwa yake mwenyewe; hupiga vita kila shauri jema.
Desire he seeks [one who] separates himself on all sound wisdom he bursts out.
2 Mpumbavu hafurahii ufahamu, bali hufurahia kutangaza maoni yake mwenyewe.
Not he delights a fool in understanding that except in revealing itself heart his.
3 Wakati uovu unapokuja, dharau huja pia, pamoja na aibu huja lawama.
When comes a wicked [person] it comes also contempt and with shame reproach.
4 Maneno ya kinywa cha mwanadamu ni kina cha maji, bali chemchemi ya hekima ni kijito kinachobubujika.
[are] waters Deep [the] words of [the] mouth of a person a wadi flowing a fountain of wisdom.
5 Sio vizuri kumpendelea mtu mwovu, au kumnyima haki asiye na hatia.
To lift up [the] face of a wicked [person] not [is] good to turn aside a righteous [person] in judgment.
6 Midomo ya mpumbavu humletea ugomvi na kinywa chake hualika kipigo.
[the] lips of A fool they go in strife and mouth his for blows it calls.
7 Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na midomo yake ni mtego kwa nafsi yake.
[the] mouth of A fool [is] ruin of him and lips his [are] [the] snare of life his.
8 Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu; huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.
[the] words of A slanderer [are] like delicacies and they they go down [the] chambers of [the] belly.
9 Mtu aliye mlegevu katika kazi yake ni ndugu na yule anayeharibu.
Also [one who] shows himself idle in work his [is] a brother he of a master of destruction.
10 Jina la Bwana ni ngome imara, wenye haki huikimbilia na kuwa salama.
[is] a tower of Strength [the] name of Yahweh in it he runs a righteous [person] and he is set on high.
11 Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake wenye ngome, wanaudhania kuwa ukuta usioweza kurukwa.
[the] wealth of A rich [person] [is] [the] town of strength his and like a wall high in own imagination his.
12 Kabla ya anguko moyo wa mtu hujaa kiburi, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia heshima.
Before destruction it is haughty [the] heart of a person and [is] before honor humility.
13 Yeye ajibuye kabla ya kusikiliza, huo ni upumbavu wake na aibu yake.
[one who] brings back A word before he listens [is] folly it of him and ignominy.
14 Roho ya mtu itastahimili katika ugonjwa bali roho iliyovunjika ni nani awezaye kuistahimili?
[the] spirit of A person it will endure sickness his and a spirit stricken who? will he bear it.
15 Moyo wa mwenye ufahamu hujipatia maarifa, masikio ya mwenye hekima huyatafuta maarifa.
A heart discerning it acquires knowledge and [the] ear of wise [people] it seeks knowledge.
16 Zawadi humfungulia njia mtoaji, nayo humleta mbele ya wakuu.
[the] gift of A person it makes space for him and before great [people] it leads him.
17 Yeye aliye wa kwanza kuleta mashtaka huonekana sahihi, hadi mwingine ajitokezapo na kumuuliza maswali.
[is] righteous The first in case his (and he will come *Q(K)*) neighbor his and he will examine him.
18 Kupiga kura hukomesha mashindano na kutenganisha wapinzani wakuu wanaopingana.
Contentions it puts an end to the lot and between mighty [people] it separates.
19 Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kuridhika kuliko mji uliozungushiwa ngome, nayo mabishano ni kama malango ya ngome yenye makomeo.
A brother transgressed [is] more than a town of strength (and contentions *Q(K)*) [are] like [the] bar of a fortress.
20 Tumbo la mtu litajaa kutokana na tunda la kinywa chake, atashibishwa mavuno yanayotokana na midomo yake.
From [the] fruit of [the] mouth of a person it is satisfied belly his [the] produce of lips his he is satisfied.
21 Mauti na uzima viko katika uwezo wa ulimi, nao waupendao watakula matunda yake.
Death and life [are] in [the] hand of [the] tongue and [those who] love it he will eat fruit its.
22 Apataye mke apata kitu chema naye ajipatia kibali kwa Bwana.
He finds a wife he finds a good thing and he obtained pleasure from Yahweh.
23 Mtu maskini huomba kuhurumiwa bali tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
Supplications he speaks a poor [person] and a rich [person] he answers strong [words].
24 Mtu mwenye marafiki wengi wanaweza kumharibu, bali yuko rafiki aambatanaye na mtu kwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
A person of companions [is] to be broken and there [is one who] loves cleaving more than a brother.
