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 favour rather than silver and gold.
2 Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
The rich and 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] seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
The reward of humility [and] the fear of Jehovah is riches, and honour, 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 the perverse: he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them.
6 Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea, naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
Train up the child according to the tenor of his way, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
7 Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
The rich ruleth over the poor; and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu, nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
He that soweth unrighteousness shall reap iniquity, and the rod of his wrath shall have an end.
9 Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
10 Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka, na mvutano utatoweka; ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
Cast out the scorner, and contention will depart, and strife and ignominy shall cease.
11 Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
He that loveth pureness of heart, upon whose lips is grace, the king is his friend.
12 Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
The eyes of Jehovah preserve knowledge; but he overthroweth the words of the unfaithful.
13 Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
The sluggard saith, There is a lion without, I shall be killed in the streets!
14 Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu; yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
The mouth of strange women is a deep ditch: he with whom Jehovah is displeased shall fall therein.
15 Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
Folly is bound in the heart of a child; 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 that oppresseth the poor, it is to enrich him; he that giveth to the rich, [bringeth] 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 unto 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: they shall be together fitted on thy lips.
19 Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
That thy confidence 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 not I written to thee excellent things, in counsels and knowledge,
21 kukufundisha maneno ya kweli na ya kuaminika, ili uweze kutoa majibu sahihi kwake yeye aliyekutuma?
that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
22 Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini, wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate;
23 kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
for Jehovah will plead their cause, and despoil the soul of those that despoil them.
24 Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
Make no friendship with an angry man, and go not with a furious man;
25 la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
lest thou learn his paths, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
Be not of them that strike hands, of them that are sureties for debts:
27 Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
if thou hast nothing 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.
Hast thou seen a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before the mean.
