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 causeth [his] father to rejoice; but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
2 Hazina zilizolimbikizwa kwa uovu hakosa thamani, bali kwa kutenda haki hujilinda mbali na kifo.
Treasures of wickedness will not profit aught; but righteousness will deliver from death.
3 Yehova hawaachi wale watendao haki wapate njaa, bali hamu ya waovu huizuia.
The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; but the sinful desires of the wicked will he cast away.
4 Mkono mlegevu humfanya mtu awe masikini, bali mkono wa mtu mwenye bidii hupata utajiri.
He becometh poor that laboreth with an indolent hand, but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
5 Mwana mwenye busara hukusanya mazao wakati wa kiangazi, bali ni aibu kwake alalaye wakati wa mavuno.
He that gathereth in summer is an intelligent son; [but] he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
6 Zawadi kutoka kwa Mungu zipo juu ya kichwa cha wale watendao haki; bali kinywa cha uovu hufunikwa kwa jeuri.
Blessings come upon the head of the righteous; but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.
7 Mtu atendaye haki anatufurahisha tunapomkumbuka, bali jina la mwovu litaoza.
The memory of the just is [destined] to be blessed; but the name of the wicked shall rot.
8 Wale wenye akili hukubali maagiza, bali mpumbavu mwenye maneno mengi ataangamia.
The wise in heart will accept commandments; but he that is a fool in his speaking will stumble.
9 Yeye anayetembea katika uadilifu hutembea katika usalama, bali yule anayepotosha njia zake, ataonekana.
He that walketh uprightly ever walketh securely; but he that perverteth his ways will be punished.
10 Yeye ambaye hukonyeza kwa jicho lake huleta majonzi, bali mpumbavu mwenye maneno mengi atatupwa chini.
He that winketh with the eye causeth vexation; and he that is a fool in his speaking will stumble.
11 Kinywa cha mwenye kutenda haki ni kama chemchemi ya maji ya uzima, bali kinywa cha uovu hufunikwa kwa jeuri.
A source of life is the mouth of the righteous; but the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.
12 Chuki huchochea mafarakano, bali upendo hufunika juu ya makwazo yote.
Hatred stirreth up strifes; but love throweth a cover over all transgressions.
13 Hekima inapatikana kwenye kinywa cha mtu mwenye ufahamu, bali fimbo ni kwa ajili ya mgongo wa yule asiye na akili.
On the lips of the man of understanding there is found wisdom: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of sense.
14 Watu wenye hekima hutunza maarifa, bali kinywa cha mpumbavu huleta uharibifu karibu.
Wise men treasure up knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish is an approaching terror.
15 Mali ya mtu tajiri ni mji wake mwenye ngome; ufukara wa masikini ni uharibifu wao.
The wealth of the rich man is his strong town: the terror of the poor is their poverty.
16 Mshahara wa watenda haki huelekea kwenye uzima; manufaa ya waovu huelekea dhambini.
The labor of the righteous [tendeth] to life: the product of the wicked is for sin.
17 Kuna njia kwenda kwenye uzima kwa yule anayefuata maongozo, bali anayekataa maonyo hupotea.
On the way unto life is he that observeth correction; but he that forsaketh reproof is in error.
18 Yeye afichaye chuki anamidomo ya uongo, na yeye anayesambaza kashfa ni mpumbavu.
He that hideth hatred hath lips of falsehood; and he that spreadeth abroad an evil report, is a fool.
19 Katika maneno mengi, hapakosi uhalifu, bali aliyemwangalifu katika usemi wake ni mwenye busara.
In a multitude of words transgression cannot be avoided; but he that refraineth his lips is intelligent.
20 Ulimi wa yule atendaye haki ni fedha safi; kuna thamani ndogo katika moyo wa mbaya.
[Like] choice silver is the tongue of the righteous: the heart of the wicked is worth but very little.
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 through lack of sense.
22 Zawadi njema za Yehova huleta utajiri na haweki maumivu ndani yake.
The blessing of the Lord it is which maketh rich, and painful labor addeth nothing thereto.
23 Uovu ni mchezo achezao mpumbavu, bali hekima ni furaha kwa mtu mwenye ufahamu.
It is as sport to a fool to do wicked deeds; but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
24 Hofu ya mwenye uovu humkumba ghafla, bali shauku ya mwenye haki itatimizwa.
What the wicked dreadeth, that will come upon him: but the longing of the righteous will God grant.
25 Waovu ni kama dhoruba inayopita, na hawapo tena, bali mwenye haki ni msingi unaodumu milele.
As the whirlwind passeth by, the wicked is no more; but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
26 Kama siki kwenye meno na moshi kwenye macho, ndivyo alivyo mvivu kwa wale waliomtuma.
As vinegar is to the teeth, and as smoke is to the eyes: so is the sluggard to those that send him.
27 Hofu ya Yehova huongeza maisha, bali miaka ya waovu itakuwa mifupi.
The fear of the Lord increaseth [man's] days; but the years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 Matumaini ya wale watendao haki ndiyo furaha yao, bali miaka ya waovu itakuwa mifupi.
The expectation of the righteous is joy; but the hope of the wicked shall perish.
29 Njia ya Yehova huwalinda wale wenye uadilifu, bali kwa waovu ni uhalibifu.
The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright; but terror is destined to the workers of injustice.
30 Wale watendao haki hawataondolewa, bali waovu hawatabaki katika nchi.
The righteous shall never be removed; but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
31 Katika kinywa cha wale watendao haki hutoka tunda la hekima, bali ulimi wa kupotosha utakatwa.
The mouth of the just uttereth wisdom; but the tongue of perverseness shall be cut out.
32 Midomo ya wale watendao mema huyajua yanayokubalika, bali kinywa cha waovu, huyajua yanayopotosha.
The lips of the righteous know [how to obtain] favor; but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] perverseness.
