Mithali 20
1 Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
It is a luxurious thing, wine, and inebriation is tumultuous. Anyone who is delighted by this will not be wise.
2 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
Just like the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king. Whoever provokes him sins in his own soul.
3 Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi, bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
Honor is for the man who separates himself from contentions. But all the foolish meddle in altercations.
4 Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
Because of the cold, the lazy one was not willing to plough. Therefore, in the summer, he will beg, and it will not be given to him.
5 Makusudi ya moyo wa mwanadamu ni maji yenye kina, lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu huyachota.
Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep waters. But a wise man will draw it out.
6 Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma, bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
Many men are called merciful. But who will find a faithful man?
7 Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
The just who walks in his simplicity shall leave behind him blessed sons.
8 Wakati mfalme aketipo katika kiti chake cha enzi kuhukumu, hupepeta ubaya wote kwa macho yake.
The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with his gaze.
9 Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi; mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
Who is able to say: “My heart is clean. I am pure from sin?”
10 Mawe ya kupimia yaliyo tofauti na vipimo tofauti, Bwana huchukia vyote viwili.
Diverse weights, diverse measures: both are abominable with God.
11 Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
A child may be understood by his interests: whether his works may be clean and upright.
12 Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo, Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
The hearing ear and the seeing eye: the Lord has made them both.
13 Usiupende usingizi la sivyo utakuwa maskini, uwe macho nawe utakuwa na chakula cha akiba.
Do not love sleep, lest deprivation oppress you. Open your eyes and be satisfied with bread.
14 “Haifai, haifai!” asema mnunuzi, kisha huondoka akijisifia ununuzi wake.
“It is bad, it is bad,” says every buyer; and when he has withdrawn, then he will boast.
15 Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi, lakini midomo inenayo maarifa ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
There is gold, and there are a multitude of jewels. But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
16 Chukua vazi la yule awekaye dhamana kwa ajili ya mgeni; lishikilie iwe dhamana kama anafanya hivyo kwa ajili ya mwanamke mpotovu.
Take away the vestments of him who stands up to vouch for a stranger, and take a pledge from him instead of from outsiders.
17 Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
The bread of lies is sweet to a man. But afterwards, his mouth will be filled with pebbles.
18 Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri, ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
Plans are strengthened by counsels. And wars are to be handled by governments.
19 Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
Do not become involved with him who reveals mysteries, and who walks deceitfully, and who enlarges his lips.
20 Ikiwa mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itazimwa katika giza nene.
Whoever curses his father and mother, his lamp will be extinguished in the midst of darkness.
21 Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni, hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
When an inheritance is obtained hastily in the beginning, in the end it will be without a blessing.
22 Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
Do not say, “I will repay evil.” Wait for the Lord, and he will free you.
23 Bwana anachukia sana mawe ya kupimia ya udanganyifu, nazo mizani zisizo halali hazimpendezi.
Diverse weights are an abomination with the Lord. A deceitful balance is not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana. Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
The steps of men are directed by the Lord. But who is the man able to understand his own way?
25 Ni mtego kwa mtu kuweka wakfu kitu kwa haraka na baada ya kitambo kidogo kufikiria tena nadhiri zake.
It is ruin for a man to devour what is holy, or, after making vows, to retract them.
26 Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
A wise king scatters the impious and bends an archway over them.
27 Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
The spirit of a man is a lamp to the Lord, which investigates all the secrets of the inner self.
28 Upendo na uaminifu humweka mfalme salama, kwa njia ya upendo, kiti chake cha enzi huwa salama.
Mercy and truth guard the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
29 Utukufu wa vijana ni nguvu zao, mvi ni fahari ya uzee.
The joy of youths is their strength. And the dignity of old men is their grey hairs.
30 Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
The bruise of a wound, as well as scourges, shall wipe away evils in the more secret places of the inner self.
