Mithali 17
1 Ni bora kuwa na utulivu pamoja chembe za mkate kuliko nyumba yenye sherehe nyingi pamoja na ugomvi.
Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
2 Mtumishi mwenye busara atatawala juu ya mwana atendaye kwa aibu na atashiriki urithi kama mmoja wa ndugu.
A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
3 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuu ni kwa dhahabu, bali Yehova huisafisha mioyo.
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
4 Mtu atendaye mabaya huwasikiliza wale wanaosema maovu; muongo anausikivu kwa wale wanaosema mambo mabaya.
A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
5 Mwenye kumdhihaki masikini humtukana Muumba wake na anayefurahia msiba hatakosa adhabu.
Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
6 Wajukuu ni taji ya wazee na wazazi huleta heshima kwa watoto wao.
Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Hotuba ya ushawishi haifai kwa mpumbavu; kidogo zaidi midomo ya uongo inafaa kwa ufalme.
Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
8 Rushwa ni kama jiwe la kiini macho kwa yule ambaye atoaye; yeye anayeiacha, hufanikiwa.
An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
9 Anayesamehe kosa hutafuta upendo, bali yeye anayerudia jambo huwatenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
10 Karipio hupenya ndani ya mtu mwenye ufahamu kuliko mapigo mamia kwenda kwa mpumbavu.
A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
11 Mtu mbaya hutafuta uasi tu, hivyo mjumbe katiri atatumwa dhidi yake.
An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
12 Ni bora kukutana na dubu aliyeporwa watoto wake kuliko kukutana na mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
13 Mtu anaporudisha mabaya badala ya mema, mabaya hayatatoka katika nyumba yake.
If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
14 Mwanzo wa mafarakano ni kama mtu anayefungulia maji kila mahali, hivyo ondoka kwenye mabishano kabla ya kutokea.
The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
15 Yeye ambaye huwaachilia watu waovu au kuwalaumu wale wanaotenda haki - watu hawa wote ni chukizo kwa Yehova.
He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
16 Kwa nini mpumbavu alipe fedha kwa kujifunza hekima, wakati hana uwezo wa kujifunza?
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
17 Rafiki hupenda kwa nyakati zote na ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya nyakati za taabu.
A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
18 Mtu asiyekuwa na akili hufanya ahadi zenye mashariti na kuanza kuwajibika kwa madeni ya jirani yake.
A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
19 Apendaye mafarakano anapenda dhambi; ambaye hutengeneza kizingiti kirefu sana kwenye mlango wake husababisha kuvunjia kwa mifupa.
The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
20 Mtu mwenye moyo wa udanganyifu hapati chochote ambacho ni chema; na mwenye ulimi wa ukaidi huanguka kwenye janga.
Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
21 Mzazi wa mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwake mwenyewe; baba wa mpumbavu hana furaha.
He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
22 Moyo mchangamfu ni dawa njema, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa ya siri ili kupotosha njia za haki.
A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
24 Mwenye ufahamu huelekeza uso wake kwenye hekima, bali macho ya mpumbavu huelekea ncha za dunia.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 Mwana mpumbavu ni huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa mwanamke aliyemzaa.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
26 Pia, si vizuri kumwadhibu mwenye kutenda haki; wala si vema kuwachapa mjeledi watu waadilifu wenye ukamilifu.
To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
27 Mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno machache na mwenye ufahamu ni mtulivu.
He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
28 Hata mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na busara kama akikaa kimya; wakati anapokaa amefunga kinywa chake, anafikiriwa kuwa na akili.
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
