Mithali 22
1 Heri kuchagua jina jema kuliko utajiri mwingi, kuheshimiwa ni bora kuliko fedha au dhahabu.
A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
The rich and the poor meet together. Jehovah is the maker of them all.
3 Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele kama kipofu nayo ikamtesa.
A prudent man sees the evil, and hides himself, but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
4 Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
The reward of humility and the fear of Jehovah is riches and honor and life.
5 Katika mapito ya waovu kuna miiba na mitego, bali yeye ailindaye nafsi yake hukaa mbali nayo.
Thorns and snares are in the way of a perverse man. He who keeps his soul shall be far from them.
6 Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea, naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu, nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
He who sows iniquity shall reap calamity, and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
9 Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
He who has a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka, na mvutano utatoweka; ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out, yea, strife and reproach will cease.
11 Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
He who loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips, the king will be his friend.
12 Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the treacherous man.
13 Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
The sluggard says, There is a lion outside. I shall be slain in the streets.
14 Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu; yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
The mouth of interloping women is a deep pit. He who is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall in it.
15 Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 Yeye amwoneaye maskini ili kujiongezea mali, naye ampaye tajiri zawadi, wote huwa maskini.
He who oppresses a poor man to his increase, and he who gives to a rich man, comes only to want.
17 Tega sikio na usikie misemo ya wenye hekima, elekeza moyo wako kwenye yale nifundishayo,
Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thy heart to my knowledge.
18 kwa maana inapendeza unapoyahifadhi moyoni mwako na kuwa nayo yote tayari midomoni mwako.
For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
19 Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
20 Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini, misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
Have I not written to thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge,
21 kukufundisha maneno ya kweli na ya kuaminika, ili uweze kutoa majibu sahihi kwake yeye aliyekutuma?
to make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou may carry back words of truth to those who send thee?
22 Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini, wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
Do not rob a poor man, because he is poor, nor oppress an afflicted man in the gate.
23 kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
For Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil of life those who despoil them.
24 Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
Make no friendship with a man who is given to anger, and thou shall not go with a wrathful man,
25 la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
lest thou learn this ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
Be thou not one of those who strike hands, or of those who are sureties for debts.
27 Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
If thou have not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
28 Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani lililowekwa na baba zako.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 Je, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake? Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme; hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
See thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure men.
