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 wroth is wronging his soul.
3 Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi, bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
4 Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh 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 draweth it up.
6 Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma, bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?
7 Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness 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 with his eyes all evil,
9 Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi; mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
Who saith, '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 Jehovah.
11 Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
12 Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo, Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah 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 become poor, Open thine eyes — be satisfied [with] bread.
14 “Haifai, haifai!” asema mnunuzi, kisha huondoka akijisifia ununuzi wake.
'Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
15 Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi, lakini midomo inenayo maarifa ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, 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.
Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
17 Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
Sweet to a man [is] the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled [with] gravel.
18 Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri, ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
19 Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver [with] his lips make not thyself surety.
20 Ikiwa mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itazimwa katika giza nene.
Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp 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 recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
23 Bwana anachukia sana mawe ya kupimia ya udanganyifu, nazo mizani zisizo halali hazimpendezi.
An abomination to Jehovah [are] a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana. Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, And man — how understandeth he 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 [is] he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.
26 Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
27 Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of Jehovah, 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 hath supported by kindness his throne.
29 Utukufu wa vijana ni nguvu zao, mvi ni fahari ya uzee.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
30 Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!
