Mithali 22
1 Heri kuchagua jina jema kuliko utajiri mwingi, kuheshimiwa ni bora kuliko fedha au dhahabu.
A good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde.
2 Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
The rich and poore meete together: the Lord 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 plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.
4 Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life.
5 Katika mapito ya waovu kuna miiba na mitego, bali yeye ailindaye nafsi yake hukaa mbali nayo.
Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them.
6 Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea, naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall not depart from it.
7 Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.
8 Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu, nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile.
9 Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore.
10 Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka, na mvutano utatoweka; ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
Cast out the scorner, and strife shall go out: so contention and reproche shall cease.
11 Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
Hee that loueth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lippes, the King shalbe his friend.
12 Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: but hee ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressour.
13 Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
The slouthfull man saith, A lyon is without, I shall be slaine in the streete.
14 Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu; yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
The mouth of strage women is as a deepe pit: he with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall therein.
15 Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him.
16 Yeye amwoneaye maskini ili kujiongezea mali, naye ampaye tajiri zawadi, wote huwa maskini.
Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie.
17 Tega sikio na usikie misemo ya wenye hekima, elekeza moyo wako kwenye yale nifundishayo,
Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge.
18 kwa maana inapendeza unapoyahifadhi moyoni mwako na kuwa nayo yote tayari midomoni mwako.
For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes.
19 Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
That thy confidence may be in the Lord, I haue shewed thee this day: thou therefore take heede.
20 Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini, misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
Haue not I written vnto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,
21 kukufundisha maneno ya kweli na ya kuaminika, ili uweze kutoa majibu sahihi kwake yeye aliyekutuma?
That I might shewe thee the assurance of the wordes of trueth to answere the wordes of trueth to them that sende to thee?
22 Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini, wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.
23 kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.
24 Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man,
25 la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.
26 Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts.
27 Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee?
28 Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani lililowekwa na baba zako.
Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.
29 Je, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake? Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme; hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
Thou seest that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, and standeth not before the base sort.
