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, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
The rich and poor meet 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 foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
By humility and the fear of the LORD are 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 the fraudulent: he that does keep 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 when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7 Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
The rich rules 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 sows iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
He that 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 scorner, and contention shall go out; yes, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.
13 Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
The slothful man says, There is a lion without, 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 strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15 Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
Foolishness is bound 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 that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Tega sikio na usikie misemo ya wenye hekima, elekeza moyo wako kwenye yale nifundishayo,
Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your 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 you keep them within you; they shall with be fitted in your lips.
19 Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
That your trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to you this day, even to you.
20 Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini, misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
Have not I written to you 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 you know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send to you?
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 the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
24 Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man you shall not go:
25 la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
Lest you learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.
26 Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
Be not you one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
27 Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under you?
28 Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani lililowekwa na baba zako.
Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.
29 Je, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake? Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme; hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
