Mithali 14
1 Mwanamke mwenye busara huijenga nyumba yake, bali mwanamke mpumbavu huibomoa kwa mikono yake mwenyewe.
The wise among women buildeth her house; but the foolish pulleth it down with her own hands.
2 Yeye aendaye kwa uaminifu humcha Yehova, bali mkaidi humdharau katika njia zake.
In his uprightness walketh he that feareth the Lord; but perverse in his ways is he that despiseth him.
3 Katika kinywa cha mpumbavu hutoka chipukizi la kiburi chake, bali midomo ya wenye busara itawalinda.
In the mouth of the foolish is a stick [for his] pride; but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4 Pale pasipo na mifugo hori la kulishia ni safi, bali mazao mengi huweza kupatikana kwa nguvu za maksai.
Where no oxen are, is the crib clean; but the abundance of harvests is [only] through the strength of the ox.
5 Shahidi mwaminifu hasemi uongo, bali shahidi wa uongo hupumua uongo.
A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness constantly uttereth lies.
6 Mwenye dharau hutafuta hekima na hakuna hata, bali maarifa huja kwa urahisi kwa mwenye ufahamu.
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none; but knowledge is easy to the man of understanding.
7 Nenda mbali kutoka kwa mtu mpumbavu, maana hutapata maarifa kwenye midomo yake.
Go far away from a foolish man, else thou wilt [never] know the lips of knowledge.
8 Hekima ya mtu mwenye busara ni kuifahamu njia yake mwenyewe, bali upuuzi wa wapumbavu ni udanganyifu.
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Wapumbavu hudharau wakati sadaka ya hatia inapotolewa, bali miongoni mwao waaminifu hushiriki fadhila.
The fool maketh a mockery of guilt; but among the upright there is good will.
10 Moyo unayajua machungu yake mwenyewe na hakuna mgeni anayeshiriki furaha yake.
The heart knoweth its own bitterness; and with its joy can no stranger intermeddle.
11 Nyumba ya waovu itaangamizwa, bali hema ya watu waaminifu itasitawi.
The house of the wicked will be destroyed: but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 Kuna njia ambayo huonekana sawa kwa mtu, lakini mwisho wake huelekea mauti tu.
There is many a way which seemeth even before a man; but its end are ways unto death.
13 Moyo unaweza kucheka lakini bado ukawa katika maumivu na furaha inaweza kukoma ikawa huzuni.
Even in laughter the heart feeleth pain; and at its end joy is sorrow.
14 Yule asiyemwaminifu atapata anachostahili kwa njia zake, bali mtu mwema atapata kilicho chake.
The backslider in heart will have enough of his own ways; and from him [departeth] the good men.
15 Yeye ambaye hakufundishwa huamini kila kitu, bali mtu mwenye hekima huzifikiria hatua zake.
The simple believeth every word; but the prudent man understandeth his steps.
16 Mtu mwenye hekima huogopa na kutoka kwenye ubaya, bali mpumbavu huliacha onyo kwa ujasiri.
A wise man is fearful, and departeth from evil; but the fool exciteth himself, and is confident.
17 Yeye ambaye anakuwa na hasira kwa haraka hufanya mambo ya kipumbavu, na mtu anayefanya hila mbaya huchukiwa.
He that is soon angry committeth folly; and a man of wicked devices is hated.
18 Wajinga hurithi upumbavu, lakini watu wenye hekima wamezingirwa kwa maarifa.
The simple inherit folly; but the prudent crown themselves with knowledge.
19 Hao ambao ni waovu watainama mbele yao walio wema na wale wenye uovu watasujudu kwenye malango ya wenye haki.
The bad sink down before the good; and the wicked are at the gates of the righteous.
20 Mtu masikini huchukiwa hata na marafiki zake, bali watu matajiri wanamarafiki wengi.
Even to his own neighbor is the poor man hateful; but the friends of the rich are many.
21 Yeye ambaye huonyesha dharau kwa jirani yake anafanya dhambi, bali yule ambaye huonyesha fadhila kwa masikini anafuraha.
He that despiseth his neighbor is a sinner; but he that is gracious to the poor—happiness attend him!
22 Je wale wanaofanya njama mbaya hawapotei? Bali wale wenye mpango wa kutenda mema watapokea agano la uaminifu na udhamini
Behold, those who contrive evil are in error; but kindness and truth attend on those who contrive what is good.
23 Katika kazi zote ngumu huja faida, bali palipo na maongezi tu, huelekea kwenye umasikini.
In all painful labor there is profit; but mere words of the lips [lead] only to want.
24 Taji ya watu wenye busara ni utajiri wao, bali upuuzi wa wapumbavu huwaletea upuu zaidi.
The crown of the wise is their riches; but the folly of fools is [only] folly.
25 Shahidi mkweli huokoa maisha, bali shahidi wa uongo hupumua uongo.
A deliverer of souls is the true witness; but a witness of deceit uttereth lies.
26 Mtu anapokuwa na hofu ya Yehova, pia anakuwa na matumaini zaidi ndani yake; vitu hivi vitakuwa kama sehemu imara ya ulinzi kwa watoto wa mtu huyu.
In the fear of the Lord is the strong confidence [of man], and unto his children will it be a place of shelter.
27 Kumcha Yehova ni chemchemi ya uzima, ili kwamba mtu aweze kujiepusha kutoka katika mitego ya mauti.
The fear of the Lord is the source of life, [teaching] to avoid the snares of death.
28 Utukufu wa mfalme upo katika idadi kubwa ya watu wake, bali pasipo watu mfalme huangamia.
In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the want of a population is the downfall of the prince.
29 Mtu mvumilivu anaufahamu mkubwa, bali mtu mwepesi wa kuhamaki hukuza upuuzi.
He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit holdeth up [to view] his folly.
30 Moyo wenye raha ni uzima wa mwili, bali husuda huozesha mifupa.
A sound heart is the life of the body; but jealousy is the rottenness of the bones.
31 Anayemkandamiza masikini humlaani Muumba wake, bali anayeonyesha fadhila kwa wahitaji humtukuza yeye.
He that oppresseth the poor blasphemeth his Maker; but he that is gracious to the needy honoreth him.
32 Mtu mwovu huangushwa chini kwa matendo yake mabaya, bali mtu mwenye haki anakimbilio hata katika kifo.
Through his own evil is the wicked thrust down; but even in his death doth the righteous have confidence.
33 Hekima hukaa katika moyo wa ufahamu, bali hata miongoni mwa wapumbavu hujiachilia mwenyewe kwa kujulikana
In the heart of the man of understanding resteth wisdom: but [the little which is] in the bosom of fools is made known.
34 Kutenda haki huliinua taifa, bali dhambi ni chukizo kwa watu wowote.
Righteousness exalteth a people; but the disgrace of nations is sin.
35 Fadhila ya mfalme ni kwa mtumishi mwenye kutenda kwa hekima, bali hasira yake ni kwa yule atendaye kwa kuaibisha.
The king's favor is bestowed on an intelligent servant; but his wrath is against him that deserveth shame.
