Mithali 18
1 Mtu ajitengaye na wengine hufuata matakwa yake mwenyewe; hupiga vita kila shauri jema.
For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
2 Mpumbavu hafurahii ufahamu, bali hufurahia kutangaza maoni yake mwenyewe.
A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
3 Wakati uovu unapokuja, dharau huja pia, pamoja na aibu huja lawama.
With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.
4 Maneno ya kinywa cha mwanadamu ni kina cha maji, bali chemchemi ya hekima ni kijito kinachobubujika.
Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 Sio vizuri kumpendelea mtu mwovu, au kumnyima haki asiye na hatia.
Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 Midomo ya mpumbavu humletea ugomvi na kinywa chake hualika kipigo.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
7 Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na midomo yake ni mtego kwa nafsi yake.
The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, 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 tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9 Mtu aliye mlegevu katika kazi yake ni ndugu na yule anayeharibu.
He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
10 Jina la Bwana ni ngome imara, wenye haki huikimbilia na kuwa salama.
A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
11 Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake wenye ngome, wanaudhania kuwa ukuta usioweza kurukwa.
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high in his own imagination.
12 Kabla ya anguko moyo wa mtu hujaa kiburi, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia heshima.
Before destruction the heart of man is high, And before honour [is] humility.
13 Yeye ajibuye kabla ya kusikiliza, huo ni upumbavu wake na aibu yake.
Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
14 Roho ya mtu itastahimili katika ugonjwa bali roho iliyovunjika ni nani awezaye kuistahimili?
The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
15 Moyo wa mwenye ufahamu hujipatia maarifa, masikio ya mwenye hekima huyatafuta maarifa.
The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Zawadi humfungulia njia mtoaji, nayo humleta mbele ya wakuu.
The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17 Yeye aliye wa kwanza kuleta mashtaka huonekana sahihi, hadi mwingine ajitokezapo na kumuuliza maswali.
Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18 Kupiga kura hukomesha mashindano na kutenganisha wapinzani wakuu wanaopingana.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
19 Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kuridhika kuliko mji uliozungushiwa ngome, nayo mabishano ni kama malango ya ngome yenye makomeo.
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20 Tumbo la mtu litajaa kutokana na tunda la kinywa chake, atashibishwa mavuno yanayotokana na midomo yake.
From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase of his lips he is 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 loving it eat its fruit.
22 Apataye mke apata kitu chema naye ajipatia kibali kwa Bwana.
[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
23 Mtu maskini huomba kuhurumiwa bali tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
24 Mtu mwenye marafiki wengi wanaweza kumharibu, bali yuko rafiki aambatanaye na mtu kwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
