Mithali 20
1 Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
2 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
3 Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi, bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
4 Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
5 Makusudi ya moyo wa mwanadamu ni maji yenye kina, lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu huyachota.
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
6 Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma, bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
7 Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy 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, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi; mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 Mawe ya kupimia yaliyo tofauti na vipimo tofauti, Bwana huchukia vyote viwili.
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
12 Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo, Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
13 Usiupende usingizi la sivyo utakuwa maskini, uwe macho nawe utakuwa na chakula cha akiba.
Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
14 “Haifai, haifai!” asema mnunuzi, kisha huondoka akijisifia ununuzi wake.
Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
15 Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi, lakini midomo inenayo maarifa ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, 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 his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri, ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
19 Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 Ikiwa mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itazimwa katika giza nene.
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni, hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
22 Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
23 Bwana anachukia sana mawe ya kupimia ya udanganyifu, nazo mizani zisizo halali hazimpendezi.
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana. Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern 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, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 Upendo na uaminifu humweka mfalme salama, kwa njia ya upendo, kiti chake cha enzi huwa salama.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
29 Utukufu wa vijana ni nguvu zao, mvi ni fahari ya uzee.
The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
