Mithali 10
1 Mithali za Sulemani. Mwana mwenye hekima humfurahisha baba yake lakini mwana mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwa mama yake.
Solomon's proverbs. A wise son makes his father happy, but a stupid son only brings his mother grief.
2 Hazina zilizolimbikizwa kwa uovu hakosa thamani, bali kwa kutenda haki hujilinda mbali na kifo.
Wealth gained through evil does you no good; but living right saves you from death.
3 Yehova hawaachi wale watendao haki wapate njaa, bali hamu ya waovu huizuia.
The Lord doesn't let good people go hungry, but he stops the wicked from getting what they want.
4 Mkono mlegevu humfanya mtu awe masikini, bali mkono wa mtu mwenye bidii hupata utajiri.
Lazy hands make you poor, but hard-working hands make you rich.
5 Mwana mwenye busara hukusanya mazao wakati wa kiangazi, bali ni aibu kwake alalaye wakati wa mavuno.
A son who gathers crops during the summer is sensible, but the one who sleeps during harvest brings disgrace.
6 Zawadi kutoka kwa Mungu zipo juu ya kichwa cha wale watendao haki; bali kinywa cha uovu hufunikwa kwa jeuri.
Those who are good are blessed, but what the wicked say hides their violent nature.
7 Mtu atendaye haki anatufurahisha tunapomkumbuka, bali jina la mwovu litaoza.
The good are remembered as a blessing, but the reputation of the wicked will rot.
8 Wale wenye akili hukubali maagiza, bali mpumbavu mwenye maneno mengi ataangamia.
Those who think wisely pay attention to instruction, but a stupid chatterbox ends up in disaster.
9 Yeye anayetembea katika uadilifu hutembea katika usalama, bali yule anayepotosha njia zake, ataonekana.
Honest people will live in safety, but those who behave deceitfully will be caught out.
10 Yeye ambaye hukonyeza kwa jicho lake huleta majonzi, bali mpumbavu mwenye maneno mengi atatupwa chini.
People who wink slyly cause trouble, but someone who gives a strong rebuke brings peace.
11 Kinywa cha mwenye kutenda haki ni kama chemchemi ya maji ya uzima, bali kinywa cha uovu hufunikwa kwa jeuri.
What good people say is a spring that gives life, but what the wicked say hides their violent nature.
12 Chuki huchochea mafarakano, bali upendo hufunika juu ya makwazo yote.
Hatred causes conflict, but love covers all wrongs.
13 Hekima inapatikana kwenye kinywa cha mtu mwenye ufahamu, bali fimbo ni kwa ajili ya mgongo wa yule asiye na akili.
Wisdom comes from people with good judgment, but stupid people are punished with a rod.
14 Watu wenye hekima hutunza maarifa, bali kinywa cha mpumbavu huleta uharibifu karibu.
Wise people accumulate knowledge, but the chattering of stupid people is a prelude to disaster.
15 Mali ya mtu tajiri ni mji wake mwenye ngome; ufukara wa masikini ni uharibifu wao.
The wealth of the rich provides them protection, while the poverty of the poor ruins them.
16 Mshahara wa watenda haki huelekea kwenye uzima; manufaa ya waovu huelekea dhambini.
If you do right you're rewarded with life, but if you're wicked all you gain is sin.
17 Kuna njia kwenda kwenye uzima kwa yule anayefuata maongozo, bali anayekataa maonyo hupotea.
If you accept instruction, you're on the path to life, but if you reject correction you'll go astray.
18 Yeye afichaye chuki anamidomo ya uongo, na yeye anayesambaza kashfa ni mpumbavu.
Anyone who hides their hatred is lying, and anyone who spreads slander is stupid.
19 Katika maneno mengi, hapakosi uhalifu, bali aliyemwangalifu katika usemi wake ni mwenye busara.
If you talk too much, you'll say something wrong. Be wise and take care what you say.
20 Ulimi wa yule atendaye haki ni fedha safi; kuna thamani ndogo katika moyo wa mbaya.
What good people say is like the best silver, but the mind of the wicked isn't worth much.
21 Midomo ya yule atendaye haki huwastawisha wengi, bali wapumbavu hufa kwa sababu ya kukosa akili.
Advice from good people helps feed many others, but stupid people die because they have no sense.
22 Zawadi njema za Yehova huleta utajiri na haweki maumivu ndani yake.
The Lord's blessing makes you rich, and he doesn't add any sadness to accompany it.
23 Uovu ni mchezo achezao mpumbavu, bali hekima ni furaha kwa mtu mwenye ufahamu.
Stupid people think it's fun to do wrong, but someone who has wisdom understands what's right.
24 Hofu ya mwenye uovu humkumba ghafla, bali shauku ya mwenye haki itatimizwa.
What the wicked fear will happen to them, while what good people hope for will be granted.
25 Waovu ni kama dhoruba inayopita, na hawapo tena, bali mwenye haki ni msingi unaodumu milele.
When the storm hits, the wicked are no more, but the good are safe and secure forever.
26 Kama siki kwenye meno na moshi kwenye macho, ndivyo alivyo mvivu kwa wale waliomtuma.
In the same way vinegar irritates the teeth and smoke irritates the eyes, lazy people irritate their employers.
27 Hofu ya Yehova huongeza maisha, bali miaka ya waovu itakuwa mifupi.
Honoring the Lord makes your life longer, but the years the wicked live will be cut short.
28 Matumaini ya wale watendao haki ndiyo furaha yao, bali miaka ya waovu itakuwa mifupi.
Good people look forward to happiness, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29 Njia ya Yehova huwalinda wale wenye uadilifu, bali kwa waovu ni uhalibifu.
The way of the Lord protects those who do right, but he destroys those who do evil.
30 Wale watendao haki hawataondolewa, bali waovu hawatabaki katika nchi.
The good will never be removed from the land, but the wicked will not remain there.
31 Katika kinywa cha wale watendao haki hutoka tunda la hekima, bali ulimi wa kupotosha utakatwa.
What good people say produces wisdom, but liars will have their tongues cut out.
32 Midomo ya wale watendao mema huyajua yanayokubalika, bali kinywa cha waovu, huyajua yanayopotosha.
Good people know the right thing to say, but the wicked always lie.
