Mithali 13
1 Mwana mwenye hekima husikia mafundisho ya baba yake, bali mwenye dhihaka hatasikiliza karipio.
A wise son, [cometh of] a father’s correction, but, a scoffer, heareth not a rebuke.
2 Mtu hufurahia vitu vizuri kutokana na matunda ya kinywa chake, bali hamu ya wadanganyifu ni jeuri.
Of the fruit of his mouth, shall a man eat what is good, but, the soul of the treacherous, [shall be sated with] violence.
3 Yeye anayelinda kinywa chake huyalinda maisha, bali anayefumbua sana midomo yake atajiangamiza mwenyewe.
He that watcheth his mouth, guardeth his soul, He that openeth wide his lips, [it shall be] his ruin.
4 Hamu ya watu wavivu ni uchu lakini hawapati kitu, bali hamu ya watu wenye bidii hutoshelezwa sana.
The sluggard, desireth, but his soul hath, nothing. But, the soul of the diligent, shall be enriched.
5 Atendaye haki huchukia uongo, bali mtu mwovu hukinzana mwenyewe, na kufanya ya kuaibisha.
A word of falsehood, the righteous man, hateth, but, the lawless, causeth shame and disgrace.
6 Wenye haki huwalinda wale ambao ni wakamilifu katika mapito yao, bali uovu huwaangusha wale watendao dhambi.
Righteousness, guardeth the man of blameless way, but, lawlessness, 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 who feigneth himself rich, yet hath nothing at all, who pleadeth poverty, yet hath great substance.
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 wealth, but, the poor, 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 lawless, goeth out.
10 Kiburi huzaa mafarakano, bali kwa wale wasikiao shauri jema kuna hekima.
Only by pride, doth one cause 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 greed, diminisheth, but, he that gathereth by little, increaseth.
12 Tumaini linapoachwa, huvunja moyo, bali kukamilishwa kwa shauku ni mti wa uzima.
Hope deferred, sickeneth the heart, —but, a tree of life, is desire fulfilled.
13 Yule ambaye anadharau fundisho bado atakuwa chini ya utawala wake, bali yeye ambaye anaheshimu amri atapewa thawabu.
He that despiseth a matter, shall get pledged thereto, but, he that revereth a commandment, the same shall be recompensed.
14 Mafundisho ya mtu mwenye hekima ni chemchemi ya uzima, yanakuondoa kutoka kwenye mitego ya mauti.
the instruction of the wise, is a well-spring of life, by departing from the snares of death.
15 Busara njema huleta fadhila, bali njia ya wadanganyifu haina mwisho.
Sound discretion, yieldeth favour, but, the way of the treacherous, is rugged.
16 Watu wenye busara hutenda kwa maarifa kwa kila uamuzi, bali mpumbavu huonyesha upuuzi wake.
Every prudent man, maketh use of knowledge, but, a dullard, spreadeth folly.
17 Mjumbe mbaya huangukia kwenye shida, bali balozi mwaminifu huleta upatanisho.
A lawless messenger, falleth into mischief, but, a faithful herald, bringeth healing.
18 Yeye ambaye hupuuza kurudiwa atapata umasikini na aibu, bali heshima itamjia yeye ambaye hujifunza kutokana na masahihisho.
Poverty and contempt, are for him that neglecteth correction, but, he that regardeth reproof, shall be honoured.
19 Shauku iliyotambuliwa ni tamu kwa hamu, bali wapumbavu huchukia kuacha uovu.
A desire fulfilled, is sweet to the soul, but it is, an abomination to the lawless, to depart from evil.
20 Tembea pamoja na watu wenye hekima nawe utakuwa na hekima, bali rafiki wa wapumbavu atateseka.
He that walketh with the wise, becometh wise, but, the friend of dullards, becometh foolish.
21 Maafa huwakimbilia wenye dhambi, bali wale watendao haki hupewa thawabu kwa mema.
Evil pursueth, sinners, but, unto the righteous, shall good be recompensed.
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 children’s children, but, laid up for the righteous, is the wealth of the sinner.
23 Shamba la masikini lisilolimwa linaweza huzalisha chakula kingi, bali huchukuliwa kwa udhalimu.
Much food, is in the fallow ground of the poor, but there is that is swept away, for want of justice.
24 Yeye ambaye hamrudi mwanawe humchukia, bali yule anayempenda mwanawe humjali kwa kumwadibisha.
He that withholdeth his rod, hateth his son, —but, he that loveth him, carefully correcteth him.
25 Yeye atendaye haki hula hadi kutosheleza hamu yake bali tumbo la mwovu linanjaa daima.
The righteous, eateth to satisfy his appetite, but, the belly of the lawless, shall want.
