Mithali 22
1 Heri kuchagua jina jema kuliko utajiri mwingi, kuheshimiwa ni bora kuliko fedha au dhahabu.
A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold — good grace.
2 Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
Rich and poor have met together, The Maker of them all [is] Jehovah.
3 Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele kama kipofu nayo ikamtesa.
The prudent hath seen the evil, and is hidden, And the simple have passed on, and are punished.
4 Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
The end of humility [is] the fear of Jehovah, Riches, and honour, and life.
5 Katika mapito ya waovu kuna miiba na mitego, bali yeye ailindaye nafsi yake hukaa mbali nayo.
Thorns — snares [are] in the way of the perverse, Whoso is keeping his soul is far from them.
6 Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea, naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.
7 Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
The rich over the poor ruleth, And a servant [is] the borrower to the lender.
8 Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu, nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
Whoso is sowing perverseness reapeth sorrow, And the rod of his anger weareth out.
9 Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
The good of eye — he is blessed, For he hath given of his bread to the poor.
10 Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka, na mvutano utatoweka; ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
Cast out a scorner — and contention goeth out, And strife and shame cease.
11 Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
Whoso is loving cleanness of heart, Grace [are] his lips, a king [is] his friend.
12 Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
The eyes of Jehovah have kept knowledge, And He overthroweth the words of the treacherous.
13 Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] without, In the midst of the broad places I am slain.'
14 Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu; yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
A deep pit [is] the mouth of strange women, The abhorred of Jehovah falleth there.
15 Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
Folly is bound up in the heart of a youth, The rod of chastisement putteth it far from him.
16 Yeye amwoneaye maskini ili kujiongezea mali, naye ampaye tajiri zawadi, wote huwa maskini.
He is oppressing the poor to multiply to him, He is giving to the rich — only to want.
17 Tega sikio na usikie misemo ya wenye hekima, elekeza moyo wako kwenye yale nifundishayo,
Incline thine ear, and hear words of the wise, And thy heart set to my knowledge,
18 kwa maana inapendeza unapoyahifadhi moyoni mwako na kuwa nayo yote tayari midomoni mwako.
For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.
19 Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.
20 Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini, misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
Have I not written to thee three times With counsels and knowledge?
21 kukufundisha maneno ya kweli na ya kuaminika, ili uweze kutoa majibu sahihi kwake yeye aliyekutuma?
To cause thee to know the certainty of sayings of truth, To return sayings of truth to those sending thee.
22 Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini, wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
Rob not the poor because he [is] poor, And bruise not the afflicted in the gate.
23 kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
For Jehovah pleadeth their cause, And hath spoiled the soul of their spoilers.
24 Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
Shew not thyself friendly with an angry man, And with a man of fury go not in,
25 la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.
26 Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties [for] burdens.
27 Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?
28 Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani lililowekwa na baba zako.
Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.
29 Je, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake? Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme; hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
Hast thou seen a man speedy in his business? Before kings he doth station himself, He stations not himself before obscure men!
