Mithali 18
1 Yule ambaye hujitenga hutafuta matakwa yake mwenyewe na hupingana na hukumu zote za kweli.
One who isolates himself seeks his own desire and he quarrels with all sound judgment.
2 Mpumbavu hapati raha katika ufahamu, lakini hufunua kile kilichopo katika moyo wake.
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but only in revealing what is in his own heart.
3 Mtu mwovu anapokuja, dharau huja pamoja naye- sambamba na aibu na shutuma.
When a wicked person comes, contempt comes with him— along with shame and 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 deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.
5 Si vema kuwa na upendeleo kwa mwovu, wala haifai kukana haki kwa wale watendao mema.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked person, nor to deny justice to the righteous person.
6 Midomo ya mpumbavu huletea mafarakano na kinywa chake hukaribisha mapigo.
A fool's lips bring him conflict and his mouth invites a beating.
7 Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na hujinasa mwenye kwa midomo yake.
A fool's mouth is his ruin and he ensnares himself with his lips.
8 Maneno ya mmbea ni kama chembe tamu na hushuka katika sehema za ndani sana kwenye mwili.
The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels and they go down into the inner parts of the body.
9 Basi, ambaye ni mzembe katika kazi yake ni ndugu yake anayeharibu wengi.
Also, one who is slack in his work is a brother to the one who destroys the most.
10 Jina la Yehova ni mnara imara; atendaye haki hukimbilia na kuwa salama.
The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous person runs into it and is safe.
11 Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake imara na katika fikira zake ni kama ukuta mrefu.
The wealth of the rich is his fortified city and in his imagination it is like a high wall.
12 Moyo wa mtu huwa na kiburi kabla ya anguko lake, bali unyenyekevu hutangulia kabla ya heshima.
Before his downfall a person's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
13 Anayejibu kabla ya kusikiliza- ni upuuzi na aibu yake.
One who answers before listening— it is his folly and shame.
14 Roho ya mtu itajinusuru na madhara, bali roho iliyopondeka nani anaweza kuivumilia?
A person's spirit will survive sickness, but a broken spirit who can bear it?
15 Moyo wa mwenye akili hujipatia maarifa na usikivu wa mwenye busara huitafuta.
The heart of the intelligent acquires knowledge and the hearing of the wise seeks it out.
16 Zawadi ya mtu inaweza kufungua njia na kumleta mbele ya mtu muhimu.
A man's gift may open the way and bring him before an important person.
17 Wa kwanza kujitetea katika shitaka lake huonekana kuwa na haki hadi mpinzani wake aje na kumuuliza maswali.
The first to plead his case seems right until his opponent comes and questions him.
18 Kupiga kura kunamaliza mabishano na kuwatawanya wapinzani imara.
Casting the lot settles disputes and separates strong opponents.
19 Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kushawishiwa kuliko mji wenye nguvu, na kugombana ni kama makomeo ya ngome.
An offended brother is harder to be won than a strong city, and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20 Tumbo la mtu litashiba kutoka kwenye tunda la kinywa chake; atatoshelezwa kwa mavuno ya midomo yake.
From the fruit of his mouth one's stomach is filled; with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
21 Uzima na kifo hutawaliwa kwa ulimi, na wale wenye kuupenda ulimi watakula tunda lake.
Death and life are controlled by the tongue, and those who love the tongue will eat its fruit.
22 Yeye apataye mke anapata kitu chema na kupokea fadhila kutoka kwa Yehova.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing and receives favor from Yahweh.
23 Mtu masikini huomba rehema, lakini mtu tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
A poor person pleads for mercy, but a rich person answers harshly.
24 Anayejidai kwa marafiki wengi watamleta katika uharibifu, bali yupo rafiki ambaye huwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
The one who claims many friends is brought to ruin by them, but there is a friend who comes closer than a brother.
