Mithali 18
1 Yule ambaye hujitenga hutafuta matakwa yake mwenyewe na hupingana na hukumu zote za kweli.
For [an object of] desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.
2 Mpumbavu hapati raha katika ufahamu, lakini hufunua kile kilichopo katika moyo wake.
A fool delighteth not in understanding, But — in uncovering his heart.
3 Mtu mwovu anapokuja, dharau huja pamoja naye- sambamba na aibu na shutuma.
With the coming of the wicked come also hath contempt, And with shame — reproach.
4 Maneno ya kinywa cha mtu ni maji yenye kina kirefu; chemchemi ya hekima ni mkondo unaotiririka.
Deep waters [are] the words of a man's mouth, The fountain of wisdom [is] a flowing brook.
5 Si vema kuwa na upendeleo kwa mwovu, wala haifai kukana haki kwa wale watendao mema.
Acceptance of the face of the wicked [is] not good, To turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6 Midomo ya mpumbavu huletea mafarakano na kinywa chake hukaribisha mapigo.
The lips of a fool enter into strife, And his mouth for stripes calleth.
7 Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake na hujinasa mwenye kwa midomo yake.
The mouth of a fool [is] ruin to him, 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 tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
9 Basi, ambaye ni mzembe katika kazi yake ni ndugu yake anayeharibu wengi.
He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he [is] to a destroyer.
10 Jina la Yehova ni mnara imara; atendaye haki hukimbilia na kuwa salama.
A tower of strength [is] the name of Jehovah, Into it the righteous runneth, and is set on high.
11 Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake imara na katika fikira zake ni kama ukuta mrefu.
The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength, And as a wall set on high 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 high, And before honour [is] humility.
13 Anayejibu kabla ya kusikiliza- ni upuuzi na aibu yake.
Whoso is answering a matter before he heareth, Folly it is to him and shame.
14 Roho ya mtu itajinusuru na madhara, bali roho iliyopondeka nani anaweza kuivumilia?
The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?
15 Moyo wa mwenye akili hujipatia maarifa na usikivu wa mwenye busara huitafuta.
The heart of the intelligent getteth knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
16 Zawadi ya mtu inaweza kufungua njia na kumleta mbele ya mtu muhimu.
The gift of a man maketh room for him, And before the great it leadeth him.
17 Wa kwanza kujitetea katika shitaka lake huonekana kuwa na haki hadi mpinzani wake aje na kumuuliza maswali.
Righteous [is] the first in his own cause, His neighbour cometh and hath searched him.
18 Kupiga kura kunamaliza mabishano na kuwatawanya wapinzani imara.
The lot causeth contentions to cease, And between the mighty it separateth.
19 Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kushawishiwa kuliko mji wenye nguvu, na kugombana ni kama makomeo ya ngome.
A brother transgressed against is as a strong city, And contentions as the bar of a palace.
20 Tumbo la mtu litashiba kutoka kwenye tunda la kinywa chake; atatoshelezwa kwa mavuno ya midomo yake.
From the fruit of a man's mouth is his belly satisfied, [From the] increase 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] in the power of the tongue, And those loving it eat its fruit.
22 Yeye apataye mke anapata kitu chema na kupokea fadhila kutoka kwa Yehova.
[Whoso] hath found a wife hath found good, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.
23 Mtu masikini huomba rehema, lakini mtu tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
[With] supplications doth the poor speak, And the rich answereth fierce things.
24 Anayejidai kwa marafiki wengi watamleta katika uharibifu, bali yupo rafiki ambaye huwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
A man with friends [is] to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!
