Mithali 15
1 Jawabu la upole huondoa ghadhabu, bali neno la ukatili huchochea hasira.
A kind reply wards off anger, but hurtful words make people mad.
2 Ulimi wa watu mwenye hekima husifu maarifa, bali kinywa cha wapumbavu humwaga upuuzi.
What wise people say makes knowledge attractive, but stupid people talk a lot of nonsense.
3 Macho ya Yehova yapo kila mahali, yakiwatazama juu ya waovu na wema.
The Lord sees everywhere, watching the evil and the good.
4 Ulimi unaoponya ni mti wa uzima, bali ulimi wa udanganyifu huvunja moyo.
Gentle words are a source of life, but telling lies does a lot of damage.
5 Mpumbavu hudharau marudi ya baba yake, bali yeye anayejifunza kutokana na masahihisho ni mwenye hekima.
Only a foolish son despises his father's instruction, but one who accepts correction is sensible.
6 Katika nyumba ya wale watendao haki kuna hazina kubwa, bali mapato ya watu waovu huwapa taabu.
There's plenty of treasure where good people live, but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.
7 Midomo ya wenye hekima husambaza maarifa, bali mioyo ya wapumbavu haifanyi hivyo.
Wise people share their knowledge, but stupid people don't think like that.
8 Yehova anachukia sadaka za watu waovu, bali maombi ya watu waadilifu ndiyo furaha yake.
The Lord hates the sacrifices of the wicked, but he loves the prayers of the good.
9 Yehova anachukia njia ya watu waovu, bali anampenda yule ambaye huandama haki.
The Lord hates the ways of the wicked, but he loves those who do what is right.
10 Marudi ya ukatili hungojea kwa yeyote ambaye huiacha njia na yule ambaye huchukia masahihisho atakufa.
If you leave the right path you will be severely disciplined; anyone who hates correction will die.
11 Kuzimu na uharibifu vipo wazi mbele za Yehova; je si zaidi sana mioyo ya wana wa wanadamu? (Sheol h7585)
Those already dead have no secrets from the Lord—how much more does he know our thoughts! (Sheol h7585)
12 Mwenye mzaha huchukia masahihisho; hatakwenda kwa wenye hekima.
Scoffers don't like to be corrected, so they don't go to the wise for advice.
13 Moyo wenye furaha husababisha uchangamfu wa uso, bali huzuni huvunja moyo.
If you're happy inside, you'll have a cheerful face, but if you're sad, you look crushed.
14 Moyo wa mwenye ufahamu hutafuta maarifa, bali kinywa cha wapumbavu hujilisha kwenye upuuzi.
An insightful mind looks for knowledge, but stupid people feed on foolishness.
15 Siku zote za watu waliokandamizwa ni taabu, bali moyo wenye furaha unakaramu daima.
The life of poor people is hard, but if you stay cheerful, it's a continual feast.
16 Bora kitu kidogo pamoja na kumcha Mungu kuliko hazina kubwa pamoja na ghasia.
It's better to respect the Lord and only have a little than to have plenty of money and the trouble that comes with it.
17 Bora mlo wenye mboga kukiwa na upendo kuliko kuandaliwa ndama aliyenona kwa chuki.
Better a dinner of vegetables where there's love than eating meat with hatred.
18 Mtu mwenye hasira huchochea mabishano, bali mtu ambaye hukawia kukasirika hutuliza ugomvi.
Short-tempered people stir up trouble, but those slow to anger calm things down.
19 Mapito ya mtu goigoi ni kama sehemu yenye uwa wa miiba, bali mapito ya mtu mwadilifu ni njia kuu iliyojengwa imara.
The way of lazy people is overgrown with thorns, but the path of the good is an open highway.
20 Mwana mwenye busara huleta furaha kwa baba yake, bali mtu mpumbavu humdharau mama yake.
A wise son makes his father happy, but a stupid man despises his mother.
21 Upuuzi humfurahia mtu ambaye amepungukiwa akili, bali mwenye ufahamu hutembea katika njia nyofu.
Stupidity makes people with no sense happy, but sensible people do what is right.
22 Mipango huharibika ambapo hakuna ushauri, bali washauri wengi wanafanikiwa.
Plans fall apart without good advice, but with plenty of advisors they're successful.
23 Mtu anapata furaha wakati anapotoa jibu la kufaa; je ni zuri kiasi gani neno kwa wakati muafaka!
A good answer makes people happy—it's great to say the right thing at the right moment!
Life's path for the wise leads upwards, so that they can avoid the grave below. (Sheol h7585)
25 Yehova hurarua urithi wa mwenye kiburi, bali huzilinda mali za mjane.
The Lord pulls down the house of the proud, but he protects the boundaries of the widow's property.
26 Yehova huyachukia mawazo ya watu waovu, bali maneno ya upole ni safi.
The Lord hates the thoughts of the wicked, but he honors the words of the pure.
27 Mporaji huleta shida kwenye familia yake, bali yeye ambaye huchukia rushwa ataishi.
People greedy for ill-gotten gains make trouble for their families, but those who hate bribes will live.
28 Moyo wa yule atendaye haki hutafakari kabla ya kujibu, bali kinywa cha watu waovu humwanga ubaya wake wote.
Good people think how best to answer questions, but stupid people say all kinds of evil things.
29 Yehova yupo mbali na watu waovu, bali husikia maombi ya wale watendao haki.
The Lord keeps his distance from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the good.
30 Nuru ya macho huleta furaha moyoni na habari njema ni afya kwenye mwili.
Bright eyes make you happy, and good news makes you feel good.
31 Kama utazingatia wakati mtu anapokurekebisha jinsi ya kuishi, utabaki miongoni mwa watu wenye busara.
If you pay attention to positive advice you'll be one of the wise.
32 Yeye anayekataa karipio hujidharau mwenyewe, bali yule asikilizaye masahihisho hujipatia ufahamu.
If you ignore instruction you have no self-esteem, but if you listen to correction you gain understanding.
33 Kumcha Yehova hufundisha hekima na unyenyekevu huja kabla ya heshima.
Respect for the Lord teaches wisdom; humility goes before honor.
