< Mithali 10 >
1 Mithali za Sulemani. Mwana mwenye hekima humfurahisha baba yake lakini mwana mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwa mama yake.
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grief to his mother.
2 Hazina zilizolimbikizwa kwa uovu hakosa thamani, bali kwa kutenda haki hujilinda mbali na kifo.
Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but righteousness brings deliverance from death.
3 Yehova hawaachi wale watendao haki wapate njaa, bali hamu ya waovu huizuia.
The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but He denies the craving of the wicked.
4 Mkono mlegevu humfanya mtu awe masikini, bali mkono wa mtu mwenye bidii hupata utajiri.
Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.
5 Mwana mwenye busara hukusanya mazao wakati wa kiangazi, bali ni aibu kwake alalaye wakati wa mavuno.
He who gathers in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
6 Zawadi kutoka kwa Mungu zipo juu ya kichwa cha wale watendao haki; bali kinywa cha uovu hufunikwa kwa jeuri.
Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
7 Mtu atendaye haki anatufurahisha tunapomkumbuka, bali jina la mwovu litaoza.
The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 Wale wenye akili hukubali maagiza, bali mpumbavu mwenye maneno mengi ataangamia.
A wise heart will receive commandments, but foolish lips will come to ruin.
9 Yeye anayetembea katika uadilifu hutembea katika usalama, bali yule anayepotosha njia zake, ataonekana.
He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out.
10 Yeye ambaye hukonyeza kwa jicho lake huleta majonzi, bali mpumbavu mwenye maneno mengi atatupwa chini.
He who winks the eye causes grief, and foolish lips will come to ruin.
11 Kinywa cha mwenye kutenda haki ni kama chemchemi ya maji ya uzima, bali kinywa cha uovu hufunikwa kwa jeuri.
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Chuki huchochea mafarakano, bali upendo hufunika juu ya makwazo yote.
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
13 Hekima inapatikana kwenye kinywa cha mtu mwenye ufahamu, bali fimbo ni kwa ajili ya mgongo wa yule asiye na akili.
Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
14 Watu wenye hekima hutunza maarifa, bali kinywa cha mpumbavu huleta uharibifu karibu.
The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of the fool invites destruction.
15 Mali ya mtu tajiri ni mji wake mwenye ngome; ufukara wa masikini ni uharibifu wao.
The wealth of the rich man is his fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16 Mshahara wa watenda haki huelekea kwenye uzima; manufaa ya waovu huelekea dhambini.
The labor of the righteous leads to life, but the gain of the wicked brings punishment.
17 Kuna njia kwenda kwenye uzima kwa yule anayefuata maongozo, bali anayekataa maonyo hupotea.
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who ignores reproof goes astray.
18 Yeye afichaye chuki anamidomo ya uongo, na yeye anayesambaza kashfa ni mpumbavu.
The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
19 Katika maneno mengi, hapakosi uhalifu, bali aliyemwangalifu katika usemi wake ni mwenye busara.
When words are many, sin is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.
20 Ulimi wa yule atendaye haki ni fedha safi; kuna thamani ndogo katika moyo wa mbaya.
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked has little worth.
21 Midomo ya yule atendaye haki huwastawisha wengi, bali wapumbavu hufa kwa sababu ya kukosa akili.
The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
22 Zawadi njema za Yehova huleta utajiri na haweki maumivu ndani yake.
The blessing of the LORD enriches, and He adds no sorrow to it.
23 Uovu ni mchezo achezao mpumbavu, bali hekima ni furaha kwa mtu mwenye ufahamu.
The fool delights in shameful conduct, but a man of understanding has wisdom.
24 Hofu ya mwenye uovu humkumba ghafla, bali shauku ya mwenye haki itatimizwa.
What the wicked man dreads will overtake him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 Waovu ni kama dhoruba inayopita, na hawapo tena, bali mwenye haki ni msingi unaodumu milele.
When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are secure forever.
26 Kama siki kwenye meno na moshi kwenye macho, ndivyo alivyo mvivu kwa wale waliomtuma.
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the slacker to those who send him.
27 Hofu ya Yehova huongeza maisha, bali miaka ya waovu itakuwa mifupi.
The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short.
28 Matumaini ya wale watendao haki ndiyo furaha yao, bali miaka ya waovu itakuwa mifupi.
The hope of the righteous is joy, but the expectations of the wicked will perish.
29 Njia ya Yehova huwalinda wale wenye uadilifu, bali kwa waovu ni uhalibifu.
The way of the LORD is a refuge to the upright, but destruction awaits those who do evil.
30 Wale watendao haki hawataondolewa, bali waovu hawatabaki katika nchi.
The righteous will never be shaken, but the wicked will not inhabit the land.
31 Katika kinywa cha wale watendao haki hutoka tunda la hekima, bali ulimi wa kupotosha utakatwa.
The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out.
32 Midomo ya wale watendao mema huyajua yanayokubalika, bali kinywa cha waovu, huyajua yanayopotosha.
The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked is perverse.