Mithali 28
1 Mtu mwovu hukimbia ingawa hakuna yeyote anayemfukuza, bali wenye haki ni wajasiri kama simba.
The ungodly [man] flees when no one pursues: but the righteous is confident as a lion.
2 Wakati nchi inapokuwa na uasi, inakuwa na viongozi wengi, bali mwenye ufahamu na maarifa hudumisha utaratibu.
By reason of the sins of ungodly men quarrels arise; but a wise man will quell them.
3 Mtu maskini amwoneaye yeye aliye maskini zaidi ni kama mvua ya dhoruba isiyosaza mazao.
A bold man oppresses the poor by ungodly deeds. As an impetuous and profitable rain,
4 Wale waiachao sheria huwasifu waovu, bali wale waishikao sheria huwapinga.
so they that forsake the law praise ungodliness; but they that love the law fortify themselves with a wall.
5 Watu wabaya hawaelewi haki, bali wale wamtafutao Bwana wanaielewa kikamilifu.
Evil men will not understand judgment: but they that seek the Lord will understand everything.
6 Afadhali maskini ambaye mwenendo wake hauna lawama kuliko tajiri ambaye njia zake ni potovu.
A poor man walking in truth is better than a rich liar.
7 Yeye ashikaye sheria ni mwana mwenye ufahamu, bali rafiki wa walafi humwaibisha baba yake.
A wise son keeps the law: but he that keeps up debauchery dishonors his father.
8 Yeye aongezaye utajiri wake kwa riba kubwa mno hukusanya kwa ajili ya mwingine, ambaye atawahurumia maskini.
He that increases his wealth by usuries and [unjust] gains, gathers it for him that pities the poor.
9 Kama mtu yeyote akikataa kusikia sheria, hata maombi yake ni chukizo.
He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even he has made his prayer abominable.
10 Yeye ambaye humwongoza mwenye haki kwenye mapito mabaya, ataanguka kwenye mtego wake mwenyewe, bali wasio na lawama watapokea urithi mwema.
He that causes upright men to err in an evil way, himself shall fall into destruction: transgressor also shall pass by prosperity, but shall not enter into it.
11 Mtu tajiri anaweza kuwa na hekima machoni pake mwenyewe, bali mtu maskini mwenye ufahamu atamfichua.
A rich man is wise in his own conceit; but an intelligent poor man will condemn him.
12 Mwenye haki ashindapo, kuna furaha kubwa, bali waovu watawalapo, watu hujificha.
By reason of the help of righteous men great glory arises: but in the places of the ungodly men are caught.
13 Yeye afichaye dhambi zake hatafanikiwa, bali yeyote aziungamaye na kuziacha hupata rehema.
He that covers his own ungodliness shall not prosper: but he that blames [himself] shall be loved.
14 Amebarikiwa mtu ambaye siku zote humcha Bwana, bali yeye afanyaye moyo wake kuwa mgumu huangukia kwenye taabu.
Blessed is the man who religiously fears always: but the hard of heart shall fall into mischiefs.
15 Kama simba angurumaye au dubu ashambuliaye, ndivyo alivyo mtu mwovu atawalaye wanyonge.
A hungry lion and a thirsty wolf [is he], who, being poor, rules over a poor nation.
16 Mtawala dhalimu hana akili, bali yeye achukiaye mapato ya udhalimu atafurahia maisha marefu.
A king in need of revenues is a great oppressor: but he that hates injustice shall live a long time.
17 Mtu mwenye kusumbuliwa na hatia ya kuua atakuwa mtoro mpaka kufa; mtu yeyote na asimsaidie.
He that becomes surety for a man charged with murder shall be an exile, and not in safety. Chasten your son, and he shall love you, and give honor to your soul: he shall not obey a sinful nation.
18 Yeye ambaye mwenendo wake hauna lawama hulindwa salama, bali yeye ambaye njia zake ni potovu ataanguka ghafula.
He that walks justly is assisted: but he that walks in crooked ways shall be entangled [therein].
19 Yeye alimaye shamba lake atakuwa na chakula tele, bali yule afuataye mambo ya upuzi atakuwa na umaskini wa kumtosha.
He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that follows idleness shall have plenty of poverty.
20 Mtu mwaminifu atabarikiwa sana, bali yeye atamaniye kupata utajiri kwa haraka hataacha kuadhibiwa.
A man worthy of credit shall be much blessed: but the wicked shall not be unpunished.
21 Kuonyesha upendeleo si vizuri, hata hivyo mtu atafanya kosa kwa kipande cha mkate.
He that reverences not the persons of the just is not good: such a one will sell a man for a morsel of bread.
22 Mtu mchoyo ana tamaa ya kupata utajiri, naye hana habari kuwa umaskini unamngojea.
An envious man makes haste to be rich, and knows not that the merciful man will have the mastery over him.
23 Yeye amkemeaye mtu mwishoni hupata kibali zaidi, kuliko mwenye maneno ya kusifu isivyostahili.
He that reproves a man's ways shall have more favor than he that flatters with the tongue.
24 Yeye amwibiaye babaye au mamaye na kusema, “Si kosa,” yeye ni mwenzi wa yule aharibuye.
He that casts off father or mother, and thinks he sins not; the same is partaker with an ungodly man.
25 Mtu mwenye tamaa huchochea fitina, bali yule amtegemeaye Bwana atafanikiwa.
An unbelieving man judges rashly: but he that trusts in the Lord will act carefully.
26 Yeye ajitumainiaye mwenyewe ni mpumbavu, bali yeye atembeaye katika hekima hulindwa salama.
He that trusts to a bold heart, such an one is a fool: but he that walks in wisdom shall be safe.
27 Yeye ampaye maskini hatapungukiwa na kitu chochote, bali yeye awafumbiaye maskini macho hupata laana nyingi.
He that gives to the poor shall not be in lack: but he that turns away his eye [from him] shall be in great distress.
28 Wakati waovu watawalapo, watu huenda mafichoni, bali waovu wanapoangamia, wenye haki hufanikiwa.
In the places of ungodly [men] the righteous mourn: but in their destruction the righteous shall be multiplied.
