Mithali 20
1 Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi, bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Makusudi ya moyo wa mwanadamu ni maji yenye kina, lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu huyachota.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma, bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 Wakati mfalme aketipo katika kiti chake cha enzi kuhukumu, hupepeta ubaya wote kwa macho yake.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi; mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Mawe ya kupimia yaliyo tofauti na vipimo tofauti, Bwana huchukia vyote viwili.
A large and small weight, and divers measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo, Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Usiupende usingizi la sivyo utakuwa maskini, uwe macho nawe utakuwa na chakula cha akiba.
Love not to speak ill, lest thou be cut off: open thine eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 “Haifai, haifai!” asema mnunuzi, kisha huondoka akijisifia ununuzi wake.
15 Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi, lakini midomo inenayo maarifa ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
16 Chukua vazi la yule awekaye dhamana kwa ajili ya mgeni; lishikilie iwe dhamana kama anafanya hivyo kwa ajili ya mwanamke mpotovu.
17 Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
18 Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri, ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
19 Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
20 Ikiwa mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itazimwa katika giza nene.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni, hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help thee.
23 Bwana anachukia sana mawe ya kupimia ya udanganyifu, nazo mizani zisizo halali hazimpendezi.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana. Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
25 Ni mtego kwa mtu kuweka wakfu kitu kwa haraka na baada ya kitambo kidogo kufikiria tena nadhiri zake.
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Upendo na uaminifu humweka mfalme salama, kwa njia ya upendo, kiti chake cha enzi huwa salama.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 Utukufu wa vijana ni nguvu zao, mvi ni fahari ya uzee.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
