Mithali 13
1 Mwana mwenye hekima husikia mafundisho ya baba yake, bali mwenye dhihaka hatasikiliza karipio.
A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction; but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2 Mtu hufurahia vitu vizuri kutokana na matunda ya kinywa chake, bali hamu ya wadanganyifu ni jeuri.
A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; but the soul of the treacherous, violence.
3 Yeye anayelinda kinywa chake huyalinda maisha, bali anayefumbua sana midomo yake atajiangamiza mwenyewe.
He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul; destruction shall be to him that openeth wide his lips.
4 Hamu ya watu wavivu ni uchu lakini hawapati kitu, bali hamu ya watu wenye bidii hutoshelezwa sana.
A sluggard's soul desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 Atendaye haki huchukia uongo, bali mtu mwovu hukinzana mwenyewe, na kufanya ya kuaibisha.
A righteous [man] hateth lying; but the wicked maketh himself odious and cometh to shame.
6 Wenye haki huwalinda wale ambao ni wakamilifu katika mapito yao, bali uovu huwaangusha wale watendao dhambi.
Righteousness preserveth him that is perfect in the way; but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 Kuna mtu ambaye hujitajirisha mwenyewe, lakini hana chochote na kuna mtu ambaye hutoa kila kitu, bado ni tajiri kweli.
There is that feigneth himself rich, and hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, and hath great wealth.
8 Mtu tajiri anaweza kufidia maisha yake kwa mali zake, bali mtu masikini hatapokea kitisho cha aina hiyo.
The ransom of a man's life is his riches; but the indigent heareth not rebuke.
9 Mwanga wa mtu atendaye haki hufurahia, bali taa ya waovu itazimika.
The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Kiburi huzaa mafarakano, bali kwa wale wasikiao shauri jema kuna hekima.
By pride there only cometh contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom.
11 Penye majivuno mengi utajiri hufifia, bali yeye apataye pesa kwa kufanya kazi kwa mkono wake pesa zake zitaongezeka.
Wealth [gotten] by vanity diminisheth; but he that gathereth by manual-labour shall increase [it].
12 Tumaini linapoachwa, huvunja moyo, bali kukamilishwa kwa shauku ni mti wa uzima.
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but the desire [that] cometh to pass is a tree of life.
13 Yule ambaye anadharau fundisho bado atakuwa chini ya utawala wake, bali yeye ambaye anaheshimu amri atapewa thawabu.
Whoso despiseth the word shall be held by it; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 Mafundisho ya mtu mwenye hekima ni chemchemi ya uzima, yanakuondoa kutoka kwenye mitego ya mauti.
The teaching of the wise [man] is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.
15 Busara njema huleta fadhila, bali njia ya wadanganyifu haina mwisho.
Good understanding procureth favour; but the way of the treacherous is hard.
16 Watu wenye busara hutenda kwa maarifa kwa kila uamuzi, bali mpumbavu huonyesha upuuzi wake.
Every prudent [man] acteth with knowledge; but the foolish layeth open [his] folly.
17 Mjumbe mbaya huangukia kwenye shida, bali balozi mwaminifu huleta upatanisho.
A wicked messenger falleth into evil; but a faithful ambassador is health.
18 Yeye ambaye hupuuza kurudiwa atapata umasikini na aibu, bali heshima itamjia yeye ambaye hujifunza kutokana na masahihisho.
Poverty and shame shall be [to] him that refuseth instruction; but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19 Shauku iliyotambuliwa ni tamu kwa hamu, bali wapumbavu huchukia kuacha uovu.
The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; but it is abomination to the foolish to depart from evil.
20 Tembea pamoja na watu wenye hekima nawe utakuwa na hekima, bali rafiki wa wapumbavu atateseka.
He that walketh with wise [men] becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved.
21 Maafa huwakimbilia wenye dhambi, bali wale watendao haki hupewa thawabu kwa mema.
Evil pursueth sinners; but to the righteous good shall be repaid.
22 Mtu mwema huacha urithi kwa wajukuu wake, bali mali ya mwenye dhambi huwekwa akiba kwa yule atendaye haki.
A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous [man].
23 Shamba la masikini lisilolimwa linaweza huzalisha chakula kingi, bali huchukuliwa kwa udhalimu.
Much food is in the tillage of the poor; but there is that is lost for want of judgment.
24 Yeye ambaye hamrudi mwanawe humchukia, bali yule anayempenda mwanawe humjali kwa kumwadibisha.
He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
25 Yeye atendaye haki hula hadi kutosheleza hamu yake bali tumbo la mwovu linanjaa daima.
The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; but the belly of the wicked shall want.
