Mithali 13
1 Mwana mwenye hekima husikia mafundisho ya baba yake, bali mwenye dhihaka hatasikiliza karipio.
A wise son — the instruction of a father, And a scorner — he hath not heard rebuke.
2 Mtu hufurahia vitu vizuri kutokana na matunda ya kinywa chake, bali hamu ya wadanganyifu ni jeuri.
From the fruit of the mouth a man eateth good, And the soul of the treacherous — violence.
3 Yeye anayelinda kinywa chake huyalinda maisha, bali anayefumbua sana midomo yake atajiangamiza mwenyewe.
Whoso is keeping his mouth, is keeping his soul, Whoso is opening wide his lips — ruin to him!
4 Hamu ya watu wavivu ni uchu lakini hawapati kitu, bali hamu ya watu wenye bidii hutoshelezwa sana.
The soul of the slothful is desiring, and hath not. And the soul of the diligent is made fat.
5 Atendaye haki huchukia uongo, bali mtu mwovu hukinzana mwenyewe, na kufanya ya kuaibisha.
A false word the righteous hateth, And the wicked causeth abhorrence, and is confounded.
6 Wenye haki huwalinda wale ambao ni wakamilifu katika mapito yao, bali uovu huwaangusha wale watendao dhambi.
Righteousness keepeth him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthroweth a sin offering.
7 Kuna mtu ambaye hujitajirisha mwenyewe, lakini hana chochote na kuna mtu ambaye hutoa kila kitu, bado ni tajiri kweli.
There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth [is] abundant.
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, And the poor hath not heard rebuke.
9 Mwanga wa mtu atendaye haki hufurahia, bali taa ya waovu itazimika.
The light of the righteous rejoiceth, And the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.
10 Kiburi huzaa mafarakano, bali kwa wale wasikiao shauri jema kuna hekima.
A vain man through pride causeth debate, And with the counselled [is] wisdom.
11 Penye majivuno mengi utajiri hufifia, bali yeye apataye pesa kwa kufanya kazi kwa mkono wake pesa zake zitaongezeka.
Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.
12 Tumaini linapoachwa, huvunja moyo, bali kukamilishwa kwa shauku ni mti wa uzima.
Hope prolonged is making the heart sick, And a tree of life [is] the coming desire.
13 Yule ambaye anadharau fundisho bado atakuwa chini ya utawala wake, bali yeye ambaye anaheshimu amri atapewa thawabu.
Whoso is despising the Word is destroyed for it, And whoso is fearing the Command is repayed.
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 turn aside from snares of death.
15 Busara njema huleta fadhila, bali njia ya wadanganyifu haina mwisho.
Good understanding giveth grace, And the way of the treacherous [is] hard.
16 Watu wenye busara hutenda kwa maarifa kwa kila uamuzi, bali mpumbavu huonyesha upuuzi wake.
Every prudent one dealeth with knowledge, And a fool spreadeth out folly.
17 Mjumbe mbaya huangukia kwenye shida, bali balozi mwaminifu huleta upatanisho.
A wicked messenger falleth into evil, And a faithful ambassador is healing.
18 Yeye ambaye hupuuza kurudiwa atapata umasikini na aibu, bali heshima itamjia yeye ambaye hujifunza kutokana na masahihisho.
Whoso is refusing instruction — poverty and shame, And whoso is observing reproof is honoured.
19 Shauku iliyotambuliwa ni tamu kwa hamu, bali wapumbavu huchukia kuacha uovu.
A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul, And an abomination to fools [is]: Turn from evil.
20 Tembea pamoja na watu wenye hekima nawe utakuwa na hekima, bali rafiki wa wapumbavu atateseka.
Whoso is walking with wise men is wise, And a companion of fools suffereth evil.
21 Maafa huwakimbilia wenye dhambi, bali wale watendao haki hupewa thawabu kwa mema.
Evil pursueth sinners, And good recompenseth the righteous.
22 Mtu mwema huacha urithi kwa wajukuu wake, bali mali ya mwenye dhambi huwekwa akiba kwa yule atendaye haki.
A good man causeth sons' sons to inherit, And laid up for the righteous [is] the sinner's wealth.
23 Shamba la masikini lisilolimwa linaweza huzalisha chakula kingi, bali huchukuliwa kwa udhalimu.
Abundance of food — the tillage of the poor, And substance is consumed without judgment.
24 Yeye ambaye hamrudi mwanawe humchukia, bali yule anayempenda mwanawe humjali kwa kumwadibisha.
Whoso is sparing his rod is hating his son, And whoso is loving him hath hastened him chastisement.
25 Yeye atendaye haki hula hadi kutosheleza hamu yake bali tumbo la mwovu linanjaa daima.
The righteous is eating to the satiety of his soul, And the belly of the wicked lacketh!
