Mithali 17
1 Ni bora kuwa na utulivu pamoja chembe za mkate kuliko nyumba yenye sherehe nyingi pamoja na ugomvi.
Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.
2 Mtumishi mwenye busara atatawala juu ya mwana atendaye kwa aibu na atashiriki urithi kama mmoja wa ndugu.
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuu ni kwa dhahabu, bali Yehova huisafisha mioyo.
As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 Mtu atendaye mabaya huwasikiliza wale wanaosema maovu; muongo anausikivu kwa wale wanaosema mambo mabaya.
The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
5 Mwenye kumdhihaki masikini humtukana Muumba wake na anayefurahia msiba hatakosa adhabu.
He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
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 are their fathers.
7 Hotuba ya ushawishi haifai kwa mpumbavu; kidogo zaidi midomo ya uongo inafaa kwa ufalme.
Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
8 Rushwa ni kama jiwe la kiini macho kwa yule ambaye atoaye; yeye anayeiacha, hufanikiwa.
The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
9 Anayesamehe kosa hutafuta upendo, bali yeye anayerudia jambo huwatenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
10 Karipio hupenya ndani ya mtu mwenye ufahamu kuliko mapigo mamia kwenda kwa mpumbavu.
A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 Mtu mbaya hutafuta uasi tu, hivyo mjumbe katiri atatumwa dhidi yake.
An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.
12 Ni bora kukutana na dubu aliyeporwa watoto wake kuliko kukutana na mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
13 Mtu anaporudisha mabaya badala ya mema, mabaya hayatatoka katika nyumba yake.
He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Mwanzo wa mafarakano ni kama mtu anayefungulia maji kila mahali, hivyo ondoka kwenye mabishano kabla ya kutokea.
The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
15 Yeye ambaye huwaachilia watu waovu au kuwalaumu wale wanaotenda haki - watu hawa wote ni chukizo kwa Yehova.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
16 Kwa nini mpumbavu alipe fedha kwa kujifunza hekima, wakati hana uwezo wa kujifunza?
What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
17 Rafiki hupenda kwa nyakati zote na ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya nyakati za taabu.
He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
18 Mtu asiyekuwa na akili hufanya ahadi zenye mashariti na kuanza kuwajibika kwa madeni ya jirani yake.
A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
19 Apendaye mafarakano anapenda dhambi; ambaye hutengeneza kizingiti kirefu sana kwenye mlango wake husababisha kuvunjia kwa mifupa.
He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
20 Mtu mwenye moyo wa udanganyifu hapati chochote ambacho ni chema; na mwenye ulimi wa ukaidi huanguka kwenye janga.
He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
21 Mzazi wa mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwake mwenyewe; baba wa mpumbavu hana furaha.
A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
22 Moyo mchangamfu ni dawa njema, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa ya siri ili kupotosha njia za haki.
The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 Mwenye ufahamu huelekeza uso wake kwenye hekima, bali macho ya mpumbavu huelekea ncha za dunia.
Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.
25 Mwana mpumbavu ni huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa mwanamke aliyemzaa.
A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
26 Pia, si vizuri kumwadhibu mwenye kutenda haki; wala si vema kuwachapa mjeledi watu waadilifu wenye ukamilifu.
It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
27 Mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno machache na mwenye ufahamu ni mtulivu.
He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.
28 Hata mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na busara kama akikaa kimya; wakati anapokaa amefunga kinywa chake, anafikiriwa kuwa na akili.
Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
