Mithali 13
1 Mwana mwenye hekima husikia mafundisho ya baba yake, bali mwenye dhihaka hatasikiliza karipio.
A wise son hears his father's instruction: but a scorner hears 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 transgressors shall eat violence.
3 Yeye anayelinda kinywa chake huyalinda maisha, bali anayefumbua sana midomo yake atajiangamiza mwenyewe.
He that keeps his mouth keeps his life: but he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 Hamu ya watu wavivu ni uchu lakini hawapati kitu, bali hamu ya watu wenye bidii hutoshelezwa sana.
The soul of the sluggard desires, and has 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 hates lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and comes to shame.
6 Wenye haki huwalinda wale ambao ni wakamilifu katika mapito yao, bali uovu huwaangusha wale watendao dhambi.
Righteousness keeps him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthrows 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 makes himself rich, yet has nothing: there is that makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
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 are his riches: but the poor hears not rebuke.
9 Mwanga wa mtu atendaye haki hufurahia, bali taa ya waovu itazimika.
The light of the righteous rejoices: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10 Kiburi huzaa mafarakano, bali kwa wale wasikiao shauri jema kuna hekima.
Only by pride comes 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 got by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labour shall increase.
12 Tumaini linapoachwa, huvunja moyo, bali kukamilishwa kwa shauku ni mti wa uzima.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick: but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
13 Yule ambaye anadharau fundisho bado atakuwa chini ya utawala wake, bali yeye ambaye anaheshimu amri atapewa thawabu.
Whoso despises the word shall be destroyed: but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 Mafundisho ya mtu mwenye hekima ni chemchemi ya uzima, yanakuondoa kutoka kwenye mitego ya mauti.
The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
15 Busara njema huleta fadhila, bali njia ya wadanganyifu haina mwisho.
Good understanding gives favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
16 Watu wenye busara hutenda kwa maarifa kwa kila uamuzi, bali mpumbavu huonyesha upuuzi wake.
Every prudent man deals with knowledge: but a fool lays open his folly.
17 Mjumbe mbaya huangukia kwenye shida, bali balozi mwaminifu huleta upatanisho.
A wicked messenger falls into mischief: 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 refuses instruction: but he that regards 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 fools to depart from evil.
20 Tembea pamoja na watu wenye hekima nawe utakuwa na hekima, bali rafiki wa wapumbavu atateseka.
He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
21 Maafa huwakimbilia wenye dhambi, bali wale watendao haki hupewa thawabu kwa mema.
Evil pursues 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 left an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
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 destroyed for lack of judgment.
24 Yeye ambaye hamrudi mwanawe humchukia, bali yule anayempenda mwanawe humjali kwa kumwadibisha.
He that spares his rod hates his son: but he that loves him chastens him early.
25 Yeye atendaye haki hula hadi kutosheleza hamu yake bali tumbo la mwovu linanjaa daima.
The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall lack.
