Mithali 18
1 Yule ambaye hujitenga hutafuta matakwa yake mwenyewe na hupingana na hukumu zote za kweli.
He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.
2 Mpumbavu hapati raha katika ufahamu, lakini hufunua kile kilichopo katika moyo wake.
A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
3 Mtu mwovu anapokuja, dharau huja pamoja naye- sambamba na aibu na shutuma.
When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy [cometh] reproach.
4 Maneno ya kinywa cha mtu ni maji yenye kina kirefu; chemchemi ya hekima ni mkondo unaotiririka.
The words of a man’s mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is [as] a flowing brook.
5 Si vema kuwa na upendeleo kwa mwovu, wala haifai kukana haki kwa wale watendao mema.
To respect the person of the wicked is not good, [Nor] to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 Midomo ya mpumbavu huletea mafarakano na kinywa chake hukaribisha mapigo.
A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.
7 Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na hujinasa mwenye kwa midomo yake.
A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 Maneno ya mmbea ni kama chembe tamu na hushuka katika sehema za ndani sana kwenye mwili.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
9 Basi, ambaye ni mzembe katika kazi yake ni ndugu yake anayeharibu wengi.
He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
10 Jina la Yehova ni mnara imara; atendaye haki hukimbilia na kuwa salama.
The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
11 Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake imara na katika fikira zake ni kama ukuta mrefu.
The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.
12 Moyo wa mtu huwa na kiburi kabla ya anguko lake, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia kabla ya heshima.
Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor [goeth] humility.
13 Anayejibu kabla ya kusikiliza- ni upuuzi na aibu yake.
He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.
14 Roho ya mtu itajinusuru na madhara, bali roho iliyopondeka nani anaweza kuivumilia?
The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?
15 Moyo wa mwenye akili hujipatia maarifa na usikivu wa mwenye busara huitafuta.
The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Zawadi ya mtu inaweza kufungua njia na kumleta mbele ya mtu muhimu.
A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.
17 Wa kwanza kujitetea katika shitaka lake huonekana kuwa na haki hadi mpinzani wake aje na kumuuliza maswali.
He that pleadeth his cause first [seemeth] just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
18 Kupiga kura kunamaliza mabishano na kuwatawanya wapinzani imara.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.
19 Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kushawishiwa kuliko mji wenye nguvu, na kugombana ni kama makomeo ya ngome.
A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city; And [such] contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20 Tumbo la mtu litashiba kutoka kwenye tunda la kinywa chake; atatoshelezwa kwa mavuno ya midomo yake.
A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
21 Uzima na kifo hutawaliwa kwa ulimi, na wale wenye kuupenda ulimi watakula tunda lake.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
22 Yeye apataye mke anapata kitu chema na kupokea fadhila kutoka kwa Yehova.
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.
23 Mtu masikini huomba rehema, lakini mtu tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
24 Anayejidai kwa marafiki wengi watamleta katika uharibifu, bali yupo rafiki ambaye huwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
