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 rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
2 Mtumishi mwenye busara atatawala juu ya mwana atendaye kwa aibu na atashiriki urithi kama mmoja wa ndugu.
A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
3 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuu ni kwa dhahabu, bali Yehova huisafisha mioyo.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
4 Mtu atendaye mabaya huwasikiliza wale wanaosema maovu; muongo anausikivu kwa wale wanaosema mambo mabaya.
An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Mwenye kumdhihaki masikini humtukana Muumba wake na anayefurahia msiba hatakosa adhabu.
Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Wajukuu ni taji ya wazee na wazazi huleta heshima kwa watoto wao.
Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Hotuba ya ushawishi haifai kwa mpumbavu; kidogo zaidi midomo ya uongo inafaa kwa ufalme.
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
8 Rushwa ni kama jiwe la kiini macho kwa yule ambaye atoaye; yeye anayeiacha, hufanikiwa.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Anayesamehe kosa hutafuta upendo, bali yeye anayerudia jambo huwatenganisha marafiki wa karibu.
Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Karipio hupenya ndani ya mtu mwenye ufahamu kuliko mapigo mamia kwenda kwa mpumbavu.
Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
11 Mtu mbaya hutafuta uasi tu, hivyo mjumbe katiri atatumwa dhidi yake.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 Ni bora kukutana na dubu aliyeporwa watoto wake kuliko kukutana na mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
13 Mtu anaporudisha mabaya badala ya mema, mabaya hayatatoka katika nyumba yake.
Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
14 Mwanzo wa mafarakano ni kama mtu anayefungulia maji kila mahali, hivyo ondoka kwenye mabishano kabla ya kutokea.
The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
15 Yeye ambaye huwaachilia watu waovu au kuwalaumu wale wanaotenda haki - watu hawa wote ni chukizo kwa Yehova.
Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
16 Kwa nini mpumbavu alipe fedha kwa kujifunza hekima, wakati hana uwezo wa kujifunza?
Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
17 Rafiki hupenda kwa nyakati zote na ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya nyakati za taabu.
At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
18 Mtu asiyekuwa na akili hufanya ahadi zenye mashariti na kuanza kuwajibika kwa madeni ya jirani yake.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
19 Apendaye mafarakano anapenda dhambi; ambaye hutengeneza kizingiti kirefu sana kwenye mlango wake husababisha kuvunjia kwa mifupa.
Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
20 Mtu mwenye moyo wa udanganyifu hapati chochote ambacho ni chema; na mwenye ulimi wa ukaidi huanguka kwenye janga.
The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
21 Mzazi wa mpumbavu huleta majonzi kwake mwenyewe; baba wa mpumbavu hana furaha.
Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
22 Moyo mchangamfu ni dawa njema, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.
A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa ya siri ili kupotosha njia za haki.
A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24 Mwenye ufahamu huelekeza uso wake kwenye hekima, bali macho ya mpumbavu huelekea ncha za dunia.
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.
25 Mwana mpumbavu ni huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa mwanamke aliyemzaa.
A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Pia, si vizuri kumwadhibu mwenye kutenda haki; wala si vema kuwachapa mjeledi watu waadilifu wenye ukamilifu.
Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
27 Mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno machache na mwenye ufahamu ni mtulivu.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [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 keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
