Mithali 21
1 Moyo wa mfalme uko katika mkono wa Bwana; huuongoza kama mkondo wa maji, popote apendapo.
The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure.
2 Njia zote za mwanadamu huonekana sawa kwake, bali Bwana huupima moyo.
Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
3 Kufanya yaliyo sawa na haki inakubalika zaidi kwa Bwana kuliko dhabihu.
To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
4 Macho ya kudharau na moyo wa kiburi, ambavyo ni taa ya waovu, vyote ni dhambi!
A high look and a heart of pride, of the evil-doer is sin.
5 Mipango ya mwenye bidii huelekeza kwenye faida, kama vile kwa hakika pupa huelekeza kwenye umaskini.
The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need.
6 Mali iliyopatikana kwa ulimi wa uongo ni mvuke upitao upesi na mtego wa kufisha.
He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death.
7 Jeuri ya waovu itawaburuta mbali, kwa kuwa wanakataa kufanya yaliyo sawa.
By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right.
8 Njia ya mwenye hatia ni ya upotovu, bali tabia ya mtu asiye na hatia ni nyofu.
Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright.
9 Ni afadhali kuishi pembeni mwa paa la nyumba, kuliko kuishi nyumba moja na mke mgomvi.
It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
10 Mtu mwovu hutamani sana ubaya, jirani yake hapati huruma kutoka kwake.
The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour.
11 Wakati mwenye mzaha ameadhibiwa, mjinga hupata hekima; wakati mtu mwenye hekima afundishwapo, hupata maarifa.
When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge.
12 Mwenye Haki huyajua yanayotendeka katika nyumba za waovu, naye atawaangamiza waovu.
The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction.
13 Mtu akiziba masikio asisikie kilio cha maskini, yeye pia atalia, wala hatajibiwa.
He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help.
14 Zawadi itolewayo kwa siri hutuliza hasira na rushwa iliyofichwa kwenye nguo hutuliza ghadhabu kali.
By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe.
15 Wakati haki imetendeka, huleta furaha kwa wenye haki, bali kitisho kwa watenda mabaya.
It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil.
16 Mtu anayepotea kutoka mapito ya ufahamu, hupumzika katika kundi la waliokufa.
The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades.
17 Mtu apendaye anasa atakuwa maskini, yeyote apendaye mvinyo na mafuta kamwe hatakuwa tajiri.
The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
18 Waovu huwa fidia kwa ajili ya wenye haki, nao wasio waaminifu kwa ajili ya wanyofu.
The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
19 Ni afadhali kuishi jangwani kuliko kuishi na mke mgomvi na mkorofi.
It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman.
20 Katika nyumba ya mwenye hekima kuna akiba ya vyakula vizuri na mafuta, lakini mtu mpumbavu hutafuna vyote alivyo navyo.
There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man.
21 Yeye afuatiaye haki na upendo hupata uzima, mafanikio na heshima.
He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour.
22 Mtu mwenye hekima huushambulia mji wa wenye nguvu, na kuangusha ngome wanazozitegemea.
A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
23 Yeye alindaye kinywa chake na ulimi wake hujilinda na maafa.
He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
24 Mtu mwenye kiburi na majivuno, “Mdhihaki” ndilo jina lake; hutenda mambo kwa kiburi kilichozidi.
The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride.
25 Kutamani sana kwa mvivu kutakuwa kifo chake, kwa sababu mikono yake haitaki kufanya kazi.
The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work.
26 Mchana kutwa hutamani zaidi, lakini mnyofu hutoa pasipo kuzuia.
All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back.
27 Dhabihu ya mtu mwovu ni chukizo, si zaidi sana itolewapo kwa nia mbaya!
The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose!
28 Shahidi wa uongo ataangamia, bali maneno ya mwenye kusikia yatadumu.
A false witness will be cut off, ...
29 Mtu mwovu ana uso wa ushupavu, bali mtu mnyofu huzifikiria njia zake.
The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way.
30 Hakuna hekima, wala akili, wala mpango unaoweza kufaulu dhidi ya Bwana.
Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord.
31 Farasi huandaliwa kwa ajili ya siku ya vita, bali ushindi huwa kwa Bwana.
The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
