Mithali 12
1 Anayependa mafundisho hupenda maarifa, bali yule anayechukia maonyo ni mpumbavu.
Whoso is loving instruction, is loving knowledge, And whoso is hating reproof [is] brutish.
2 Yehova humpa fadhila mtu mwema, bali mtu ambaye hufanya mipango ya ufisada atahukumiwa.
The good bringeth forth favour from Jehovah, And the man of wicked devices He condemneth.
3 Mtu hawezi kuimarishwa kwa uovu, bali wale watendao haki hawawezi kung'olewa.
A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.
4 Mke mwema ni taji ya mume wake, bali yule aletaye aibu ni kama ugonjwa unaoozesha mifupa yake.
A virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, And as rottenness in his bones [is] one causing shame.
5 Mipango ya wale watendao haki ni adili, bali shauri la mwovu ni udanganyifu.
The thoughts of the righteous [are] justice, The counsels of the wicked — deceit.
6 Maneno ya watu waovu ni uviziaji unaosubiri nafasi ya kuua, bali maneno ya mwenye haki yatawatunza salama.
The words of the wicked [are]: 'Lay wait for blood,' And the mouth of the upright delivereth them.
7 Watu waovu wametupwa na kuondolewa, bali nyumba ya wale watendao haki itasimama.
Overthrow the wicked, and they are not, And the house of the righteous standeth.
8 Mtu husifiwa kwa kadri ya hekima yake, bali yule anayechagua ukaidi hudharauliwa.
According to his wisdom is a man praised, And the perverted of heart becometh despised.
9 Bora kuwa na cheo duni- kuwa mtumishi tu- kuliko kujisifu kuhusu ukuu wako bila kuwa na chakula.
Better [is] the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.
10 Yule atendaye haki anajali mahitaji ya mnyama wake, bali huruma ya mwovu ni ukatili.
The righteous knoweth the life of his beast, And the mercies of the wicked [are] cruel.
11 Yule atendaye kazi katika shamba lake atapata chakula tele, bali anayesaka miradi duni hana akili.
Whoso is tilling the ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanities is lacking heart,
12 Watu waovu hutamani wanavyoiba watu wabaya kutoka kwa wengine, bali tunda la wale watendao haki hutoka kwao mwenyewe.
The wicked hath desired the net of evil doers, And the root of the righteous giveth.
13 Mtu mbaya hunaswa kwa maongezi yake mabaya, bali wale watendao haki hujinasua katika taabu.
In transgression of the lips [is] the snare of the wicked, And the righteous goeth out from distress.
14 Mtu hushiba vitu vyema kutokana na tunda la maneno yake, kama vile kazi ya mikono yake inavyompa thawabu.
From the fruit of the mouth [is] one satisfied [with] good, And the deed of man's hands returneth to him.
15 Njia ya mpumbavu ni sawa machoni pake mwenyewe, bali mtu wa hekima husikiliza ushauri.
The way of a fool [is] right in his own eyes, And whoso is hearkening to counsel [is] wise.
16 Mpumbavu huonyesha hasira yake papo hapo, bali asiyejali tusi ni mwenye busara.
The fool — in a day is his anger known, And the prudent is covering shame.
17 Asemaye ukweli huongea ilivyo haki, bali shahidi wa uongo huongea uongo.
Whoso uttereth faithfulness declareth righteousness, And a false witness — deceit.
18 Maneno yake asemaye kwa pupa ni kama kurusha upanga, bali ulimi wa mwenye hekima huleta uponyaji.
A rash speaker is like piercings of a sword, And the tongue of the wise is healing.
19 Midomo yenye kweli itadumu milele, bali ulimi wa uongo ni kwa kitambo kidogo tu.
The lip of truth is established for ever, And for a moment — a tongue of falsehood.
20 Kuna udanganyifu katika mioyo ya wale wanaopanga kutenda uovu, bali furaha hutoka kwa washauri wa amani.
Deceit [is] in the heart of those devising evil, And to those counselling peace [is] joy.
21 Hakuna ugonjwa utakaowajia wale watendao haki, bali watu waovu watajazwa matatizo.
No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.
22 Yehova anachukia midomo ya uongo, bali wale ambao huishi kwa uaminifu ndiyo furaha yake.
An abomination to Jehovah [are] lying lips, And stedfast doers [are] his delight.
23 Mtu mwenye busara anasitiri maarifa yake, bali moyo wa wapumbavu hupiga yowe za kipumbavu.
A prudent man is concealing knowledge, And the heart of fools proclaimeth folly.
24 Mkono wa mwenye bidii utatawala, bali watu wavivu watawekwa katika kazi za kulazimishwa.
The hand of the diligent ruleth, And slothfulness becometh tributary.
25 Mashaka katika moyo wa mtu humwelemea, bali neno zuri humfurahisha.
Sorrow in the heart of a man boweth down, And a good word maketh him glad.
26 Mwenye haki ni kiongozi kwa rafiki yake, bali njia ya waovu huwaongoza katika kupotea.
The righteous searcheth his companion, And the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
27 Watu wavivu hawawezi kubanika mawindo yao wenyewe, bali mtu wenye bidii atapata mali zenye thamani.
The slothful roasteth not his hunting, And the wealth of a diligent man is precious.
28 Wale ambao wanatembea katika njia ya haki wanapata uzima na katika mapito hayo hakuna kifo.
In the path of righteousness [is] life, And in the way of [that] path [is] no death!
