< Mithali 12 >
1 Anayependa mafundisho hupenda maarifa, bali yule anayechukia maonyo ni mpumbavu.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge. But whoever hates correction is unwise.
2 Yehova humpa fadhila mtu mwema, bali mtu ambaye hufanya mipango ya ufisada atahukumiwa.
Whoever is good shall draw grace from the Lord. But whoever trusts in his own thoughts acts impiously.
3 Mtu hawezi kuimarishwa kwa uovu, bali wale watendao haki hawawezi kung'olewa.
Man will not be made strong from impiety. And the root of the just shall not be moved.
4 Mke mwema ni taji ya mume wake, bali yule aletaye aibu ni kama ugonjwa unaoozesha mifupa yake.
A diligent woman is a crown to her husband. And she who acts with confusion as to which things are worthy is decay to his bones.
5 Mipango ya wale watendao haki ni adili, bali shauri la mwovu ni udanganyifu.
The thoughts of the just are judgments. And the counsels of the impious are dishonest.
6 Maneno ya watu waovu ni uviziaji unaosubiri nafasi ya kuua, bali maneno ya mwenye haki yatawatunza salama.
The words of the impious lie in wait for blood. The mouth of the just shall free them.
7 Watu waovu wametupwa na kuondolewa, bali nyumba ya wale watendao haki itasimama.
Turn from the impious, and they will not be. But the house of the just shall stand firm.
8 Mtu husifiwa kwa kadri ya hekima yake, bali yule anayechagua ukaidi hudharauliwa.
A man will be known by his doctrine. But whoever is vain and heartless will suffer contempt.
9 Bora kuwa na cheo duni- kuwa mtumishi tu- kuliko kujisifu kuhusu ukuu wako bila kuwa na chakula.
Better is a pauper who has what he needs, than someone glorious and in need of bread.
10 Yule atendaye haki anajali mahitaji ya mnyama wake, bali huruma ya mwovu ni ukatili.
The just one knows the lives of his beasts. But the inner most parts of the impious are cruel.
11 Yule atendaye kazi katika shamba lake atapata chakula tele, bali anayesaka miradi duni hana akili.
Whoever works his land shall be satisfied with bread. But whoever continually pursues leisure is most foolish. Whoever is soothed by lingering over wine leaves behind contempt in his strongholds.
12 Watu waovu hutamani wanavyoiba watu wabaya kutoka kwa wengine, bali tunda la wale watendao haki hutoka kwao mwenyewe.
The desire of the impious is the fortification of what is most wicked. But the root of the just shall prosper.
13 Mtu mbaya hunaswa kwa maongezi yake mabaya, bali wale watendao haki hujinasua katika taabu.
For the sins of the lips draw ruin to the evil. But the just shall escape from distress.
14 Mtu hushiba vitu vyema kutokana na tunda la maneno yake, kama vile kazi ya mikono yake inavyompa thawabu.
By the fruit of his own mouth, each one shall be filled with good things, and according to the works of his own hands, it will be distributed to him.
15 Njia ya mpumbavu ni sawa machoni pake mwenyewe, bali mtu wa hekima husikiliza ushauri.
The way of the foolish is right in his own eyes. But whoever is wise listens to counsels.
16 Mpumbavu huonyesha hasira yake papo hapo, bali asiyejali tusi ni mwenye busara.
The senseless immediately reveals his anger. But whoever ignores injuries is clever.
17 Asemaye ukweli huongea ilivyo haki, bali shahidi wa uongo huongea uongo.
He is a sign of justice, who speaks what he knows. But whoever deceives is a dishonest witness.
18 Maneno yake asemaye kwa pupa ni kama kurusha upanga, bali ulimi wa mwenye hekima huleta uponyaji.
He who makes promises is also jabbed, as if with a sword, in conscience. But the tongue of the wise is reasonable.
19 Midomo yenye kweli itadumu milele, bali ulimi wa uongo ni kwa kitambo kidogo tu.
The lips of truth shall be steadfast forever. But a hasty witness readies a lying tongue.
20 Kuna udanganyifu katika mioyo ya wale wanaopanga kutenda uovu, bali furaha hutoka kwa washauri wa amani.
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evils. But gladness follows those who take up counsels of peace.
21 Hakuna ugonjwa utakaowajia wale watendao haki, bali watu waovu watajazwa matatizo.
Whatever may befall the just, it will not discourage him. But the impious will be filled with disasters.
22 Yehova anachukia midomo ya uongo, bali wale ambao huishi kwa uaminifu ndiyo furaha yake.
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. But whoever acts faithfully pleases him.
23 Mtu mwenye busara anasitiri maarifa yake, bali moyo wa wapumbavu hupiga yowe za kipumbavu.
A resourceful man conceals knowledge. And the heart of the unwise provokes foolishness.
24 Mkono wa mwenye bidii utatawala, bali watu wavivu watawekwa katika kazi za kulazimishwa.
The hand of the strong will rule. But anyone who is neglectful will pay tribute.
25 Mashaka katika moyo wa mtu humwelemea, bali neno zuri humfurahisha.
Grief in the heart of a man humbles him. And with a good word he shall be made glad.
26 Mwenye haki ni kiongozi kwa rafiki yake, bali njia ya waovu huwaongoza katika kupotea.
He who ignores a loss for the sake of a friend is just. But the way of the impious will deceive them.
27 Watu wavivu hawawezi kubanika mawindo yao wenyewe, bali mtu wenye bidii atapata mali zenye thamani.
The dishonest will not discover gain. But the substance of a man will be like precious gold.
28 Wale ambao wanatembea katika njia ya haki wanapata uzima na katika mapito hayo hakuna kifo.
In the path of justice, there is life. But the devious way leads to death.