< Mithali 10 >
1 Mithali za Sulemani. Mwana mwenye hekima humfurahisha baba yake lakini mwana mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwa mama yake.
Proverbs of Solomon. A wise son causes a father to rejoice, And a foolish son [is] an affliction to his mother.
2 Hazina zilizolimbikizwa kwa uovu hakosa thamani, bali kwa kutenda haki hujilinda mbali na kifo.
Treasures of wickedness do not profit, And righteousness delivers from death.
3 Yehova hawaachi wale watendao haki wapate njaa, bali hamu ya waovu huizuia.
YHWH does not cause the soul of the righteous to hunger, And He thrusts away the desire of the wicked.
4 Mkono mlegevu humfanya mtu awe masikini, bali mkono wa mtu mwenye bidii hupata utajiri.
Poor [is] he who is working [with] a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 Mwana mwenye busara hukusanya mazao wakati wa kiangazi, bali ni aibu kwake alalaye wakati wa mavuno.
Whoever is gathering in summer [is] a wise son, Whoever is sleeping in harvest [is] a son causing shame.
6 Zawadi kutoka kwa Mungu zipo juu ya kichwa cha wale watendao haki; bali kinywa cha uovu hufunikwa kwa jeuri.
Blessings [are] for the head of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked covers violence.
7 Mtu atendaye haki anatufurahisha tunapomkumbuka, bali jina la mwovu litaoza.
The remembrance of the righteous [is] for a blessing, And the name of the wicked rots.
8 Wale wenye akili hukubali maagiza, bali mpumbavu mwenye maneno mengi ataangamia.
The wise in heart accepts commands, And a talkative fool kicks.
9 Yeye anayetembea katika uadilifu hutembea katika usalama, bali yule anayepotosha njia zake, ataonekana.
Whoever is walking in integrity walks confidently, And whoever is perverting his ways is known.
10 Yeye ambaye hukonyeza kwa jicho lake huleta majonzi, bali mpumbavu mwenye maneno mengi atatupwa chini.
Whoever is winking the eye gives grief, And a talkative fool kicks.
11 Kinywa cha mwenye kutenda haki ni kama chemchemi ya maji ya uzima, bali kinywa cha uovu hufunikwa kwa jeuri.
A fountain of life [is] the mouth of the righteous, And the mouth of the wicked covers violence.
12 Chuki huchochea mafarakano, bali upendo hufunika juu ya makwazo yote.
Hatred awakens contentions, And love covers over 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 in the lips of the intelligent, And a rod [is] for the back of him who is lacking understanding.
14 Watu wenye hekima hutunza maarifa, bali kinywa cha mpumbavu huleta uharibifu karibu.
The wise lay up knowledge, and the mouth of a fool [is] near ruin.
15 Mali ya mtu tajiri ni mji wake mwenye ngome; ufukara wa masikini ni uharibifu wao.
The wealth of the rich [is] his strong city, The ruin of the poor [is] their poverty.
16 Mshahara wa watenda haki huelekea kwenye uzima; manufaa ya waovu huelekea dhambini.
The wage of the righteous [is] for life, The increase of the wicked for sin.
17 Kuna njia kwenda kwenye uzima kwa yule anayefuata maongozo, bali anayekataa maonyo hupotea.
A traveler to life [is] he who is keeping instruction, And whoever is forsaking rebuke is erring.
18 Yeye afichaye chuki anamidomo ya uongo, na yeye anayesambaza kashfa ni mpumbavu.
Whoever is covering hatred with lying lips, And whoever is bringing out an evil report is a fool.
19 Katika maneno mengi, hapakosi uhalifu, bali aliyemwangalifu katika usemi wake ni mwenye busara.
In the abundance of words transgression does not cease, And whoever is restraining 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] chosen silver, The heart of the wicked—as a little thing.
21 Midomo ya yule atendaye haki huwastawisha wengi, bali wapumbavu hufa kwa sababu ya kukosa akili.
The lips of the righteous delight many, And fools die for lack of heart.
22 Zawadi njema za Yehova huleta utajiri na haweki maumivu ndani yake.
The blessing of YHWH—it makes rich, And He adds no grief with it.
23 Uovu ni mchezo achezao mpumbavu, bali hekima ni furaha kwa mtu mwenye ufahamu.
To execute inventions [is] as play to a fool, And wisdom to a man of understanding.
24 Hofu ya mwenye uovu humkumba ghafla, bali shauku ya mwenye haki itatimizwa.
The feared thing of the wicked meets him, And the desire of the righteous is given.
25 Waovu ni kama dhoruba inayopita, na hawapo tena, bali mwenye haki ni msingi unaodumu milele.
As the passing by of a windstorm, So the wicked is not, And the righteous is a perpetual foundation.
26 Kama siki kwenye meno na moshi kwenye macho, ndivyo alivyo mvivu kwa wale waliomtuma.
As vinegar to the teeth, And as smoke to the eyes, So [is] the slothful to those sending him.
27 Hofu ya Yehova huongeza maisha, bali miaka ya waovu itakuwa mifupi.
The fear of YHWH adds days, And the years of the wicked are shortened.
28 Matumaini ya wale watendao haki ndiyo furaha yao, bali miaka ya waovu itakuwa mifupi.
The hope of the righteous [is] joyful, And the expectation of the wicked perishes.
29 Njia ya Yehova huwalinda wale wenye uadilifu, bali kwa waovu ni uhalibifu.
The way of YHWH [is] strength to the perfect, And ruin to workers of iniquity.
30 Wale watendao haki hawataondolewa, bali waovu hawatabaki katika nchi.
The righteous is not moved for all time, And the wicked do not inhabit the earth.
31 Katika kinywa cha wale watendao haki hutoka tunda la hekima, bali ulimi wa kupotosha utakatwa.
The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, And the tongue of contrariness is cut out.
32 Midomo ya wale watendao mema huyajua yanayokubalika, bali kinywa cha waovu, huyajua yanayopotosha.
The lips of the righteous know a pleasing thing, And the mouth of the wicked perverseness!