Mithali 11
1 Yehova huchukia vipimo ambavyo havipo sahihi, bali hufurahia uzani dhahiri.
Balances of deceit [are] an abomination to Jehovah, And a perfect weight [is] His delight.
2 Kinapokuja kiburi, ndipo aibu huja, bali unyenyekevu huleta hekima.
Pride hath come, and shame cometh, And with the lowly [is] wisdom.
3 Uadilifu wa wenye haki huwaongoza, bali udanganyifu wa njia za wajanja utawaangamiza.
The integrity of the upright leadeth them, And the perverseness of the treacherous destroyeth them.
4 Utajiri hauna thamani siku ya ghadhabu, bali kwa kutenda haki hujilinda na mauti.
Wealth profiteth not in a day of wrath, And righteousness delivereth from death.
5 Mwenendo wa mtu mwema huinyosha njia yake, bali waovu wataanguka kwa sababu ya uovu wao.
The righteousness of the perfect maketh right his way, And by his wickedness doth the wicked fall.
6 Mwenendo mwema wa wale wampendezao Mungu utawalinda salama, bali wadanganyifu hunaswa katika shauku zao.
The righteousness of the upright delivereth them, And in mischief the treacherous are captured.
7 Mtu mwovu anapokufa, tumaini lake hupotea na tumaini lililokuwa katika nguvu zake linakuwa si kitu.
In the death of a wicked man, hope perisheth, And the expectation of the iniquitous hath been lost.
8 Yule atendaye haki hulindwa katika taabu na badala yake taabu humjia mwovu.
The righteous from distress is drawn out, And the wicked goeth in instead of him.
9 Kwa kinywa chake asiyeamini Mungu humwangamiza jirani yake, bali kwa maarifa wale watendao haki hulindwa salama.
With the mouth a hypocrite corrupteth his friend, And by knowledge the righteous are drawn out.
10 Wanapofanikiwa watendao haki, mji hufurahi, waovu wanapoangamia, kunakuwa na kelele za furaha.
In the good of the righteous a city exulteth, And in the destruction of the wicked [is] singing.
11 Kwa zawadi nzuri za wale wanaompendeza Mungu, mji unakuwa mkubwa; kwa kinywa cha waovu mji huvurugwa.
By the blessing of the upright is a city exalted, And by the mouth of the wicked thrown down.
12 Mtu mwenye dharau kwa rafiki yake hana akili, bali mtu mwenye ufahamu hunyamaza.
Whoso is despising his neighbour lacketh heart, And a man of understanding keepeth silence.
13 Anayekwenda akizunguka kwa kukashifu hufunua siri, bali mtu mwaminifu hustiri jambo.
A busybody is revealing secret counsel, And the faithful of spirit is covering the matter.
14 Pasipokuwa na uongozi wenye busara, taifa huanguka, bali ushindi huja kwa kushauriana washauri wengi.
Without counsels do a people fall, And deliverance [is] in a multitude of counsellors.
15 Anayemdhamini mkopo wa mgeni ataumia kwa usumbufu, bali anayechukia kutoa rehani kwa namna ya ahadi yupo salama.
Evil [one] suffereth when he hath been surety [for] a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.
16 Mwanamke mwenye rehema hupata heshima, bali watu wakorofi hufumbata utajiri.
A gracious woman retaineth honour, And terrible [men] retain riches.
17 Mtu mkarimu hufaidika mwenyewe, bali mkatili hujiumiza mwenyewe.
A kind man is rewarding his own soul, And the fierce is troubling his own flesh.
18 Mtu mwovu husema uongo kupata mishahara yake, bali yeye apandaye haki anavuna mishahara ya kweli.
The wicked is getting a lying wage, And whoso is sowing righteousness — a true reward.
19 Mtu mwaminifu atendaye haki ataishi, bali yeye atendaye uovu atakufa.
Rightly [is] righteousness for life, And whoso is pursuing evil — for his own death.
20 Yehova anawachukia wenye ukaidi mioyoni, bali anawapenda wale ambao njia zao hazina makosa.
An abomination to Jehovah [are] the perverse of heart, And the perfect of the way [are] His delight.
21 Uwe na uhakika juu ya hili- watu waovu hawatakosa adhabu, bali uzao wa wale watendao haki watawekwa salama.
Hand to hand, the wicked is not acquitted, And the seed of the righteous hath escaped.
22 Kama pete ya dhahabu kwenye pua ya nguruwe ndiyo alivyo mwanamke mzuri asiye na busara.
A ring of gold in the nose of a sow — A fair woman and stubborn of behaviour.
23 Shauku ya wale watendao haki ni matokeo mema, bali watu waovu wanaweza kutumainia ghadhabu tu.
The desire of the righteous [is] only good, The hope of the wicked [is] transgression.
24 Kuna yule ambaye hupanda mbegu- atakusanya zaidi; mwingine hapandi- huyo anakuwa masikini.
There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.
25 Mtu mkarimu atafanikiwa na yule awapaye maji wengine atapata maji yake mwenyewe.
A liberal soul is made fat, And whoso is watering, he also is watered.
26 Watu wanamlaani mtu ambaye hukataa kuuza nafaka, bali zawadi njema hufunika kichwa chake ambaye huuza nafaka.
Whoso is withholding corn, the people execrate him, And a blessing [is] for the head of him who is selling.
27 Yule ambaye hutafuta mema kwa bidii pia anatafuta kibali, bali yule atafutaye ubaya atapata ubaya.
Whoso is earnestly seeking good Seeketh a pleasing thing, And whoso is seeking evil — it meeteth him.
28 Wale wanaotumaini utajiri wataanguka, bali kama jani, wale watendao haki watasitawi.
Whoso is confident in his wealth he falleth, And as a leaf, the righteous flourish.
29 Yule ambaye analeta taabu kwenye kaya yake ataurithi upepo na mpumbavu atakuwa mtumishi wa wenye moyo wa hekima.
Whoso is troubling his own house inheriteth wind, And a servant [is] the fool to the wise of heart.
30 Wale watendao haki watakuwa kama mti wa uzima, lakini vurugu huondoa uzima.
The fruit of the righteous [is] a tree of life, And whoso is taking souls [is] wise.
31 Tazama! Ikiwa wale watendao haki hupokea wanachositahili, je si zaidi kwa waovu na wenye dhambi!
Lo, the righteous in the earth is recompensed, Surely also the wicked and the sinner!
