Mithali 20
1 Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; and whosoever 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 life.
3 Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi, bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore 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 [like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma, bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
Most men wilt proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
A just man that 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 that sitteth 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, and divers measures, both of them alike are an abomination to 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 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, the LORD 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.
It is naught, it is naught, 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 abundance 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 surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge [that is surety] 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.
Every purpose is established by counsel: and by wise guidance make thou 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 openeth wide 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 [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil: wait on the LORD, and he shall save 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 goings are of the LORD; how then can 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 rashly to say, [It is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
A wise king winnoweth the wicked, and bringeth the [threshing] wheel over them.
27 Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost 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 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 hoary head.
30 Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil: and strokes [reach] the innermost parts of the belly.
