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, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.
2 Mtumishi mwenye busara atatawala juu ya mwana atendaye kwa aibu na atashiriki urithi kama mmoja wa ndugu.
A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
3 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuu ni kwa dhahabu, bali Yehova huisafisha mioyo.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
4 Mtu atendaye mabaya huwasikiliza wale wanaosema maovu; muongo anausikivu kwa wale wanaosema mambo mabaya.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Mwenye kumdhihaki masikini humtukana Muumba wake na anayefurahia msiba hatakosa adhabu.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 Wajukuu ni taji ya wazee na wazazi huleta heshima kwa watoto wao.
Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
7 Hotuba ya ushawishi haifai kwa mpumbavu; kidogo zaidi midomo ya uongo inafaa kwa ufalme.
Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
8 Rushwa ni kama jiwe la kiini macho kwa yule ambaye atoaye; yeye anayeiacha, hufanikiwa.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
9 Anayesamehe kosa hutafuta upendo, bali yeye anayerudia jambo huwatenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 Karipio hupenya ndani ya mtu mwenye ufahamu kuliko mapigo mamia kwenda kwa mpumbavu.
A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Mtu mbaya hutafuta uasi tu, hivyo mjumbe katiri atatumwa dhidi yake.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
12 Ni bora kukutana na dubu aliyeporwa watoto wake kuliko kukutana na mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Mtu anaporudisha mabaya badala ya mema, mabaya hayatatoka katika nyumba yake.
Whoso returneth 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 strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
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 alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Kwa nini mpumbavu alipe fedha kwa kujifunza hekima, wakati hana uwezo wa kujifunza?
Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Rafiki hupenda kwa nyakati zote na ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya nyakati za taabu.
A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
18 Mtu asiyekuwa na akili hufanya ahadi zenye mashariti na kuanza kuwajibika kwa madeni ya jirani yake.
A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Apendaye mafarakano anapenda dhambi; ambaye hutengeneza kizingiti kirefu sana kwenye mlango wake husababisha kuvunjia kwa mifupa.
He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate 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 deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 Mzazi wa mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwake mwenyewe; baba wa mpumbavu hana furaha.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 Moyo mchangamfu ni dawa njema, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa ya siri ili kupotosha njia za haki.
The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Mwenye ufahamu huelekeza uso wake kwenye hekima, bali macho ya mpumbavu huelekea ncha za dunia.
Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in 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 bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Pia, si vizuri kumwadhibu mwenye kutenda haki; wala si vema kuwachapa mjeledi watu waadilifu wenye ukamilifu.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
27 Mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno machache na mwenye ufahamu ni mtulivu.
He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Hata mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na busara kama akikaa kimya; wakati anapokaa amefunga kinywa chake, anafikiriwa kuwa na akili.
Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
