Mithali 20
1 Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
2 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi, bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur 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 cold; Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
5 Makusudi ya moyo wa mwanadamu ni maji yenye kina, lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu huyachota.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma, bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; Happy will be his children after him!
8 Wakati mfalme aketipo katika kiti chake cha enzi kuhukumu, hupepeta ubaya wote kwa macho yake.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi; mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Mawe ya kupimia yaliyo tofauti na vipimo tofauti, Bwana huchukia vyote viwili.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo, Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
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 hath 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 abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
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 who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri, ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 midnight darkness.
21 Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni, hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” 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 to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana. Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his 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 utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
28 Upendo na uaminifu humweka mfalme salama, kwa njia ya upendo, kiti chake cha enzi huwa salama.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, his throne is upholden 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 gray head.
30 Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
