Mithali 17
1 Ni bora kuwa na utulivu pamoja chembe za mkate kuliko nyumba yenye sherehe nyingi pamoja na ugomvi.
It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 Mtumishi mwenye busara atatawala juu ya mwana atendaye kwa aibu na atashiriki urithi kama mmoja wa ndugu.
A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuu ni kwa dhahabu, bali Yehova huisafisha mioyo.
The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
4 Mtu atendaye mabaya huwasikiliza wale wanaosema maovu; muongo anausikivu kwa wale wanaosema mambo mabaya.
The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Mwenye kumdhihaki masikini humtukana Muumba wake na anayefurahia msiba hatakosa adhabu.
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.
6 Wajukuu ni taji ya wazee na wazazi huleta heshima kwa watoto wao.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.
7 Hotuba ya ushawishi haifai kwa mpumbavu; kidogo zaidi midomo ya uongo inafaa kwa ufalme.
Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
8 Rushwa ni kama jiwe la kiini macho kwa yule ambaye atoaye; yeye anayeiacha, hufanikiwa.
A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 Anayesamehe kosa hutafuta upendo, bali yeye anayerudia jambo huwatenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
10 Karipio hupenya ndani ya mtu mwenye ufahamu kuliko mapigo mamia kwenda kwa mpumbavu.
A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
11 Mtu mbaya hutafuta uasi tu, hivyo mjumbe katiri atatumwa dhidi yake.
An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger 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 meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.
13 Mtu anaporudisha mabaya badala ya mema, mabaya hayatatoka katika nyumba yake.
When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 Mwanzo wa mafarakano ni kama mtu anayefungulia maji kila mahali, hivyo ondoka kwenye mabishano kabla ya kutokea.
The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.
15 Yeye ambaye huwaachilia watu waovu au kuwalaumu wale wanaotenda haki - watu hawa wote ni chukizo kwa Yehova.
The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Kwa nini mpumbavu alipe fedha kwa kujifunza hekima, wakati hana uwezo wa kujifunza?
Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
17 Rafiki hupenda kwa nyakati zote na ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya nyakati za taabu.
A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
18 Mtu asiyekuwa na akili hufanya ahadi zenye mashariti na kuanza kuwajibika kwa madeni ya jirani yake.
A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
19 Apendaye mafarakano anapenda dhambi; ambaye hutengeneza kizingiti kirefu sana kwenye mlango wake husababisha kuvunjia kwa mifupa.
Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
20 Mtu mwenye moyo wa udanganyifu hapati chochote ambacho ni chema; na mwenye ulimi wa ukaidi huanguka kwenye janga.
A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 Mzazi wa mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwake mwenyewe; baba wa mpumbavu hana furaha.
Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 Moyo mchangamfu ni dawa njema, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa ya siri ili kupotosha njia za haki.
A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Mwenye ufahamu huelekeza uso wake kwenye hekima, bali macho ya mpumbavu huelekea ncha za dunia.
The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set 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 bitterness to the woman who bore him.
26 Pia, si vizuri kumwadhibu mwenye kutenda haki; wala si vema kuwachapa mjeledi watu waadilifu wenye ukamilifu.
Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
27 Mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno machache na mwenye ufahamu ni mtulivu.
One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Hata mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na busara kama akikaa kimya; wakati anapokaa amefunga kinywa chake, anafikiriwa kuwa na akili.
Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
