Mithali 20
1 Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.
2 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoever] 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 strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
The sluggard will not plow 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.
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 will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed 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 [are] alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [is] pure, and whether [it is] 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 thy 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, then he boasteth.
15 Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi, lakini midomo inenayo maarifa ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
There is gold, and a multitude 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 take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
Bread of deceit [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 with good advice make war.
19 Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
He that goeth about [as] a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Ikiwa mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itazimwa katika giza nene.
Whoever curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni, hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end of it shall not be blessed.
22 Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] 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?
Man's goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then 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 the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
A wise king scatterreth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward 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 upheld 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.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
