Mithali 20
1 Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
Wine is a scorner, strong drink is raging; and whoso erreth thereby is not wise.
2 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
3 Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi, bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
It is an honour for a man to cease from strife; but every fool rusheth into it.
4 Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
The sluggard will not plough by reason of the winter; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Makusudi ya moyo wa mwanadamu ni maji yenye kina, lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu huyachota.
Counsel in the heart of man is deep water, and a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma, bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; but a faithful man who shall find?
7 Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: blessed are his children after him!
8 Wakati mfalme aketipo katika kiti chake cha enzi kuhukumu, hupepeta ubaya wote kwa macho yake.
A king sitting on the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi; mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Mawe ya kupimia yaliyo tofauti na vipimo tofauti, Bwana huchukia vyote viwili.
Divers weights, divers measures, even both of them are abomination to Jehovah.
11 Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
12 Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo, Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13 Usiupende usingizi la sivyo utakuwa maskini, uwe macho nawe utakuwa na chakula cha akiba.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 “Haifai, haifai!” asema mnunuzi, kisha huondoka akijisifia ununuzi wake.
Bad! bad! saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi, lakini midomo inenayo maarifa ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a precious Jewel.
16 Chukua vazi la yule awekaye dhamana kwa ajili ya mgeni; lishikilie iwe dhamana kama anafanya hivyo kwa ajili ya mwanamke mpotovu.
Take his garment that is become surety [for] another, and hold him in pledge for strangers.
17 Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri, ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
Plans are established by counsel; and with good advice make war.
19 Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that openeth his lips.
20 Ikiwa mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itazimwa katika giza nene.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in the blackest darkness.
21 Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni, hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
An inheritance obtained hastily at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
22 Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
Say not, I will recompense evil: wait on Jehovah, and he shall save thee.
23 Bwana anachukia sana mawe ya kupimia ya udanganyifu, nazo mizani zisizo halali hazimpendezi.
Divers weights are an abomination unto Jehovah; and a false balance is not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana. Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
The steps of a man are from Jehovah; and how can a man 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 a snare to a man rashly to say, It is hallowed, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
Man's spirit is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.
28 Upendo na uaminifu humweka mfalme salama, kwa njia ya upendo, kiti chake cha enzi huwa salama.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; and he upholdeth his throne by mercy.
29 Utukufu wa vijana ni nguvu zao, mvi ni fahari ya uzee.
The glory of young men is their strength; and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
30 Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
Wounding stripes purge away evil, and strokes [purge] the inner parts of the belly.
