Mithali 20
1 Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
Wine [is] a scorner—strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be angry is wronging his soul.
3 Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi, bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
Cessation from strife is an honor to a man, And every fool interferes.
4 Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
The slothful does not plow because of winter, He asks in harvest, and there is nothing.
5 Makusudi ya moyo wa mwanadamu ni maji yenye kina, lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu huyachota.
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draws it up.
6 Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma, bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
A multitude of men each proclaim his kindness, And a man of steadfastness who finds?
7 Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
The righteous is habitually walking in his integrity, O the blessedness of his sons after him!
8 Wakati mfalme aketipo katika kiti chake cha enzi kuhukumu, hupepeta ubaya wote kwa macho yake.
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering all evil with his eyes,
9 Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi; mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
Who says, “I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?”
10 Mawe ya kupimia yaliyo tofauti na vipimo tofauti, Bwana huchukia vyote viwili.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to YHWH.
11 Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
Even by his actions a youth makes himself known, Whether his work is pure or upright.
12 Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo, Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye—YHWH has even made both of them.
13 Usiupende usingizi la sivyo utakuwa maskini, uwe macho nawe utakuwa na chakula cha akiba.
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor, Open your eyes—be satisfied [with] bread.
14 “Haifai, haifai!” asema mnunuzi, kisha huondoka akijisifia ununuzi wake.
“Bad, bad,” says the buyer, And then he boasts himself going his way.
15 Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi, lakini midomo inenayo maarifa ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Indeed, a precious vessel, [are] 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.
When a stranger has been guarantor, take his garment, And pledge it for strangers.
17 Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
The bread of falsehood [is] sweet to a man, And afterward his mouth is filled [with] gravel.
18 Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri, ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
You establish purposes by counsel, And with plans you make war.
19 Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
The busybody is a revealer of secret counsels, And do not make yourself guarantor for a deceiver [with] his lips.
20 Ikiwa mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itazimwa katika giza nene.
Whoever is vilifying his father and his mother, his lamp is extinguished in blackness of darkness.
21 Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni, hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
Do not say, “I repay evil,” Wait for YHWH, and He delivers you.
23 Bwana anachukia sana mawe ya kupimia ya udanganyifu, nazo mizani zisizo halali hazimpendezi.
A stone and a stone [are] an abomination to YHWH, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana. Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
The steps of a man [are] from YHWH, And man—how does he understand his way?
25 Ni mtego kwa mtu kuweka wakfu kitu kwa haraka na baada ya kitambo kidogo kufikiria tena nadhiri zake.
A snare to a man [that] he has swallowed a holy thing, And to make inquiry after vows.
26 Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turns the wheel back on them.
27 Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of YHWH, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Upendo na uaminifu humweka mfalme salama, kwa njia ya upendo, kiti chake cha enzi huwa salama.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he has supported his throne by kindness.
29 Utukufu wa vijana ni nguvu zao, mvi ni fahari ya uzee.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is grey hairs.
30 Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
Blows that wound cleanse away evil, Also the scourges of the inner parts of the heart!
