Mithali 20
1 Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
2 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: whoso 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 honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
4 Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 Makusudi ya moyo wa mwanadamu ni maji yenye kina, lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu huyachota.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the man of understanding will draw 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 who can find a faithful man?
7 Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children after him.
8 Wakati mfalme aketipo katika kiti chake cha enzi kuhukumu, hupepeta ubaya wote kwa macho yake.
A king that sitteth on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi; mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
10 Mawe ya kupimia yaliyo tofauti na vipimo tofauti, Bwana huchukia vyote viwili.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo, Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
13 Usiupende usingizi la sivyo utakuwa maskini, uwe macho nawe utakuwa na chakula cha akiba.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
14 “Haifai, haifai!” asema mnunuzi, kisha huondoka akijisifia ununuzi wake.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi, lakini midomo inenayo maarifa ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
16 Chukua vazi la yule awekaye dhamana kwa ajili ya mgeni; lishikilie iwe dhamana kama anafanya hivyo kwa ajili ya mwanamke mpotovu.
Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri, ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct war.
19 Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that enticeth with 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 quenched in obscure darkness.
21 Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni, hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Bwana anachukia sana mawe ya kupimia ya udanganyifu, nazo mizani zisizo halali hazimpendezi.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana. Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he 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 to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Upendo na uaminifu humweka mfalme salama, kwa njia ya upendo, kiti chake cha enzi huwa salama.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 Utukufu wa vijana ni nguvu zao, mvi ni fahari ya uzee.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
