Mithali 21
1 Moyo wa mfalme uko katika mkono wa Bwana; huuongoza kama mkondo wa maji, popote apendapo.
As streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Njia zote za mwanadamu huonekana sawa kwake, bali Bwana huupima moyo.
All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.
3 Kufanya yaliyo sawa na haki inakubalika zaidi kwa Bwana kuliko dhabihu.
To do justice and equity Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Macho ya kudharau na moyo wa kiburi, ambavyo ni taa ya waovu, vyote ni dhambi!
The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.
5 Mipango ya mwenye bidii huelekeza kwenye faida, kama vile kwa hakika pupa huelekeza kwenye umaskini.
The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; But the hasty hasteneth only to want.
6 Mali iliyopatikana kwa ulimi wa uongo ni mvuke upitao upesi na mtego wa kufisha.
The getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that seek death.
7 Jeuri ya waovu itawaburuta mbali, kwa kuwa wanakataa kufanya yaliyo sawa.
The rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
8 Njia ya mwenye hatia ni ya upotovu, bali tabia ya mtu asiye na hatia ni nyofu.
The way of the guilty man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are right.
9 Ni afadhali kuishi pembeni mwa paa la nyumba, kuliko kuishi nyumba moja na mke mgomvi.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large house.
10 Mtu mwovu hutamani sana ubaya, jirani yake hapati huruma kutoka kwake.
The soul of the wicked longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion in his eyes.
11 Wakati mwenye mzaha ameadhibiwa, mjinga hupata hekima; wakati mtu mwenye hekima afundishwapo, hupata maarifa.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Mwenye Haki huyajua yanayotendeka katika nyumba za waovu, naye atawaangamiza waovu.
The righteous man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into ruin.
13 Mtu akiziba masikio asisikie kilio cha maskini, yeye pia atalia, wala hatajibiwa.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry aloud, but shall not be heard.
14 Zawadi itolewayo kwa siri hutuliza hasira na rushwa iliyofichwa kwenye nguo hutuliza ghadhabu kali.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 Wakati haki imetendeka, huleta furaha kwa wenye haki, bali kitisho kwa watenda mabaya.
To do justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do iniquity.
16 Mtu anayepotea kutoka mapito ya ufahamu, hupumzika katika kundi la waliokufa.
A man who wandereth from the way of discretion Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Mtu apendaye anasa atakuwa maskini, yeyote apendaye mvinyo na mafuta kamwe hatakuwa tajiri.
He that loveth pleasure will be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Waovu huwa fidia kwa ajili ya wenye haki, nao wasio waaminifu kwa ajili ya wanyofu.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous! And in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.
19 Ni afadhali kuishi jangwani kuliko kuishi na mke mgomvi na mkorofi.
It is better to dwell in a desert land Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Katika nyumba ya mwenye hekima kuna akiba ya vyakula vizuri na mafuta, lakini mtu mpumbavu hutafuna vyote alivyo navyo.
Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them up.
21 Yeye afuatiaye haki na upendo hupata uzima, mafanikio na heshima.
He who followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 Mtu mwenye hekima huushambulia mji wa wenye nguvu, na kuangusha ngome wanazozitegemea.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength in which it trusted.
23 Yeye alindaye kinywa chake na ulimi wake hujilinda na maafa.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from trouble.
24 Mtu mwenye kiburi na majivuno, “Mdhihaki” ndilo jina lake; hutenda mambo kwa kiburi kilichozidi.
The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.
25 Kutamani sana kwa mvivu kutakuwa kifo chake, kwa sababu mikono yake haitaki kufanya kazi.
The desire of the sluggard will destroy him; For his hands refuse to labor.
26 Mchana kutwa hutamani zaidi, lakini mnyofu hutoa pasipo kuzuia.
The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth not withhold.
27 Dhabihu ya mtu mwovu ni chukizo, si zaidi sana itolewapo kwa nia mbaya!
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he bringeth it with an evil design!
28 Shahidi wa uongo ataangamia, bali maneno ya mwenye kusikia yatadumu.
A false witness shall perish; But a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.
29 Mtu mwovu ana uso wa ushupavu, bali mtu mnyofu huzifikiria njia zake.
The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth his way.
30 Hakuna hekima, wala akili, wala mpango unaoweza kufaulu dhidi ya Bwana.
Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, against the LORD.
31 Farasi huandaliwa kwa ajili ya siku ya vita, bali ushindi huwa kwa Bwana.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle; But victory is from the LORD.
