Mithali 10
1 Mithali za Sulemani. Mwana mwenye hekima humfurahisha baba yake lakini mwana mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwa mama yake.
A wise son makes [his] father glad: but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
2 Hazina zilizolimbikizwa kwa uovu hakosa thamani, bali kwa kutenda haki hujilinda mbali na kifo.
Treasures shall not profit the lawless: but righteousness shall deliver from death.
3 Yehova hawaachi wale watendao haki wapate njaa, bali hamu ya waovu huizuia.
The Lord will not famish a righteous soul: but he will overthrow the life of the ungodly.
4 Mkono mlegevu humfanya mtu awe masikini, bali mkono wa mtu mwenye bidii hupata utajiri.
Poverty brings a man low: but the hands of the vigorous make rich. A son who is instructed shall be wise, and shall use the fool for a servant.
5 Mwana mwenye busara hukusanya mazao wakati wa kiangazi, bali ni aibu kwake alalaye wakati wa mavuno.
A wise son is saved from heat: but a lawless son is blighted of the winds in harvest.
6 Zawadi kutoka kwa Mungu zipo juu ya kichwa cha wale watendao haki; bali kinywa cha uovu hufunikwa kwa jeuri.
The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the just: but untimely grief shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.
7 Mtu atendaye haki anatufurahisha tunapomkumbuka, bali jina la mwovu litaoza.
The memory of the just is praised; but the name of the ungodly [man] is extinguished.
8 Wale wenye akili hukubali maagiza, bali mpumbavu mwenye maneno mengi ataangamia.
A wise man in heart will receive commandments; but he that is unguarded in his lips shall be overthrown in his perverseness.
9 Yeye anayetembea katika uadilifu hutembea katika usalama, bali yule anayepotosha njia zake, ataonekana.
He that walks simply, walks confidently; but he that perverts his ways shall be known.
10 Yeye ambaye hukonyeza kwa jicho lake huleta majonzi, bali mpumbavu mwenye maneno mengi atatupwa chini.
He that winks with his eyes deceitfully, procures griefs for men; but he that reproves boldly is a peacemaker.
11 Kinywa cha mwenye kutenda haki ni kama chemchemi ya maji ya uzima, bali kinywa cha uovu hufunikwa kwa jeuri.
[There is] a fountain of life in the hand of a righteous man; but destruction shall cover the mouth of the ungodly.
12 Chuki huchochea mafarakano, bali upendo hufunika juu ya makwazo yote.
Hatred stirs up strife; but affection covers all that do not love strife.
13 Hekima inapatikana kwenye kinywa cha mtu mwenye ufahamu, bali fimbo ni kwa ajili ya mgongo wa yule asiye na akili.
He that brings forth wisdom from his lips smites the fool with a rod.
14 Watu wenye hekima hutunza maarifa, bali kinywa cha mpumbavu huleta uharibifu karibu.
The wise will hide discretion; but the mouth of the hasty draws near to ruin.
15 Mali ya mtu tajiri ni mji wake mwenye ngome; ufukara wa masikini ni uharibifu wao.
The wealth of rich men is a strong city; but poverty is the ruin of the ungodly.
16 Mshahara wa watenda haki huelekea kwenye uzima; manufaa ya waovu huelekea dhambini.
The works of the righteous produce life; but the fruits of the ungodly [produce] sins.
17 Kuna njia kwenda kwenye uzima kwa yule anayefuata maongozo, bali anayekataa maonyo hupotea.
Instruction keeps the right ways of life; but instruction unchastened goes astray.
18 Yeye afichaye chuki anamidomo ya uongo, na yeye anayesambaza kashfa ni mpumbavu.
Righteous lips cover enmity; but they that utter railings are most foolish.
19 Katika maneno mengi, hapakosi uhalifu, bali aliyemwangalifu katika usemi wake ni mwenye busara.
By a multitude of words you shall not escape sin; but if you refrain your lips you will be prudent.
20 Ulimi wa yule atendaye haki ni fedha safi; kuna thamani ndogo katika moyo wa mbaya.
The tongue of the just is tried silver; but the heart of the ungodly shall fail.
21 Midomo ya yule atendaye haki huwastawisha wengi, bali wapumbavu hufa kwa sababu ya kukosa akili.
The lips of the righteous know sublime [truths]: but the foolish die in lack.
22 Zawadi njema za Yehova huleta utajiri na haweki maumivu ndani yake.
The blessing of the Lord is upon the head of the righteous; it enriches [him], and grief of heart shall not be added to [it].
23 Uovu ni mchezo achezao mpumbavu, bali hekima ni furaha kwa mtu mwenye ufahamu.
A fool does mischief in sport; but wisdom brings forth prudence for a man.
24 Hofu ya mwenye uovu humkumba ghafla, bali shauku ya mwenye haki itatimizwa.
The ungodly is engulfed in destruction; but the desire of the righteous is acceptable.
25 Waovu ni kama dhoruba inayopita, na hawapo tena, bali mwenye haki ni msingi unaodumu milele.
When the storm passes by, the ungodly vanishes away; but the righteous turns aside and escapes for ever.
26 Kama siki kwenye meno na moshi kwenye macho, ndivyo alivyo mvivu kwa wale waliomtuma.
As a sour grape is hurtful to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so iniquity hurts those that practise it.
27 Hofu ya Yehova huongeza maisha, bali miaka ya waovu itakuwa mifupi.
The fear of the Lord adds [length] of days: but the years of the ungodly shall be shortened.
28 Matumaini ya wale watendao haki ndiyo furaha yao, bali miaka ya waovu itakuwa mifupi.
Joy rests long with the righteous: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.
29 Njia ya Yehova huwalinda wale wenye uadilifu, bali kwa waovu ni uhalibifu.
The fear of the Lord is a strong hold of the saints: but ruin [comes] to them that work wickedness.
30 Wale watendao haki hawataondolewa, bali waovu hawatabaki katika nchi.
The righteous shall never fail: but the ungodly shall not dwell in the earth.
31 Katika kinywa cha wale watendao haki hutoka tunda la hekima, bali ulimi wa kupotosha utakatwa.
The mouth of the righteous drops wisdom: but the tongue of the unjust shall perish.
32 Midomo ya wale watendao mema huyajua yanayokubalika, bali kinywa cha waovu, huyajua yanayopotosha.
The lips of just men drop grace: but the mouth of the ungodly is perverse.
