Mithali 19
1 Bora mtu masikini ambaye huenenda katika uadilifu wake kuliko mwenye ukaidi katika maneno yake na ni mpumbavu.
Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted.
2 Tena, si vizuri kuwa na hamu bila maarifa na mwenye kukimbia haraka sana hukosea njia.
Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way.
3 Upuuzi wa mtu unaharibu maisha yake na moyo wake hughadhabika dhidi ya Yehova.
By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord.
4 Utajiri huongeza marafiki wengi, bali mtu masikini hutengwa na rafiki zake.
Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted from his friend.
5 Shahidi wa uongo hatakosa adhabu na mwenye kupumua uongo hataokoka.
A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.
6 Wengi wataomba fadhila kutoka kwa mtu mkarimu na kila mtu ni rafiki wa yule anayetoa zawadi.
Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every man is the special friend of him who has something to give.
7 Mtu masikini huchukiwa na ndugu zake wote; je marafiki wengi kiasi gani hujitenga kutoka kwake! Anawaita, lakini wameondoka.
All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ...
8 Anayepata hekima huyapenda maisha yake mwenyewe; yeye atunzaye ufahamu atapata kilicho chema.
He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good.
9 Shahidi wa uongo hatakosa kuadhibiwa, bali mwenye kupumua uongo ataangamia.
A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.
10 Haifai kwa mpumbavu kuishi kwa anasa- wala kwa mtumwa kutawala juu ya wafalme.
Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.
11 Busara humfanya mtu achelewe kukasirika na utukufu wake ni kusamehe kosa.
A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.
12 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama muungurumo wa simba kijana, bali fadhila yake ni kama umande kwenye majani.
The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass.
13 Mwana mpumbavu ni uharibifu kwa baba yake na mke mgomvi ni maji yanayochuruzika daima.
A foolish son is the destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a wife are like drops of rain falling without end.
14 Nyumba na utajiri ni urithi kutoka kwa wazazi, bali mke mwenye busara hutoka kwa Yehova.
House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.
15 Uvivu unamtupa mtu kwenye usingizi mzito, bali asiyetamani kufanya kazi atakwenda njaa.
Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go without food.
16 Yeye anayetii amri huyaongoza maisha yake, bali mtu asiyefikiri juu ya njia zake atakufa.
He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.
17 Mwenye ukarimu kwa masikini humkopesha Yehova na atalipwa kwa kile alichofanya.
He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.
18 Mrudi mwanao wakati kuna matumaini na usiwe na shauku ya kumweka katika mauti.
Give your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his death.
19 Mtu mwenye hasira kali lazima alipe adhabu; kama ukimwokoa, utafanya hivyo mara mbili.
A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment: for if you get him out of trouble you will have to do it again.
20 Sikiliza ushauri na ukubali maelekezo, ili uweze kuwa na hekima mwishoni mwa maisha yako.
Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise.
21 Moyoni mwa mtu kuna mipango mingi, bali kusudi la Yehova ndilo litakalo simama.
A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging.
22 Shauku ya mtu ni uaminifu na mtu masikini ni bora kuliko muongo.
The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is better than one who is false.
23 Kumheshimu Yehova huwaelekeza watu kwenye uzima; mwenye nayo atashibishwa na hatadhurika kwa madhara.
The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way.
24 Mtu goigoi huuzika mkono wake ndani ya dishi; hataurudisha juu ya kinywa chake.
The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again.
25 Kama utampiga mwenye mzaha, wajinga watakuwa na hekima; mwelekeze mwenye ufahamu, naye atapata maarifa.
When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him.
26 Anayempora baba yake na kumfukuza mama yake ni mwana anayeleta aibu na shutuma.
He who is violent to his father, driving away his mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name.
27 Mwanangu, kama utaacha kusikiliza maelekezo, utapotea kutoka kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge.
28 Shahidi mpotofu huidhihaki haki na kinywa cha waovu humeza uovu.
A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream.
29 Hukumu ipo tayari kwa wenye dhihaka na mjeledi kwa migongo ya wapumbavu.
Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.
