Mithali 19
1 Bora mtu masikini ambaye huenenda katika uadilifu wake kuliko mwenye ukaidi katika maneno yake na ni mpumbavu.
Better to be poor but honest than stupid and tell lies.
2 Tena, si vizuri kuwa na hamu bila maarifa na mwenye kukimbia haraka sana hukosea njia.
It's not good to be someone who doesn't think. If you rush, things go wrong.
3 Upuuzi wa mtu unaharibu maisha yake na moyo wake hughadhabika dhidi ya Yehova.
People mess up their lives by their own stupidity, and then get angry with the Lord.
4 Utajiri huongeza marafiki wengi, bali mtu masikini hutengwa na rafiki zake.
If you're rich, you get a lot of friends, but if you're poor, you lose any friends you had.
5 Shahidi wa uongo hatakosa adhabu na mwenye kupumua uongo hataokoka.
A false witness will be punished; liars won't get away with their lies.
6 Wengi wataomba fadhila kutoka kwa mtu mkarimu na kila mtu ni rafiki wa yule anayetoa zawadi.
Many ask favors from important people, and everyone's a friend of the generous.
7 Mtu masikini huchukiwa na ndugu zake wote; je marafiki wengi kiasi gani hujitenga kutoka kwake! Anawaita, lakini wameondoka.
If a poor man's relatives can't stand him, how much more will his friends avoid him! He tries to talk with them but they don't listen.
8 Anayepata hekima huyapenda maisha yake mwenyewe; yeye atunzaye ufahamu atapata kilicho chema.
If you become wise, you have good self-esteem; if you learn good sense you'll be successful.
9 Shahidi wa uongo hatakosa kuadhibiwa, bali mwenye kupumua uongo ataangamia.
A false witness will be punished; people who tell lies will perish.
10 Haifai kwa mpumbavu kuishi kwa anasa- wala kwa mtumwa kutawala juu ya wafalme.
It's not right for stupid people to live in luxury, and it's even worse for a slave to rule over leaders.
11 Busara humfanya mtu achelewe kukasirika na utukufu wake ni kusamehe kosa.
If you have good sense you'll be slow to get angry; you gain respect by forgiving wrongs.
12 Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama muungurumo wa simba kijana, bali fadhila yake ni kama umande kwenye majani.
When a king gets angry, he sounds like a roaring lion; but his kindness is as soft as dew on the grass.
13 Mwana mpumbavu ni uharibifu kwa baba yake na mke mgomvi ni maji yanayochuruzika daima.
A stupid son makes his father miserable, and an argumentative wife is like dripping that never stops.
14 Nyumba na utajiri ni urithi kutoka kwa wazazi, bali mke mwenye busara hutoka kwa Yehova.
You inherit a house and wealth from your father, but a sensible wife is a gift from the Lord.
15 Uvivu unamtupa mtu kwenye usingizi mzito, bali asiyetamani kufanya kazi atakwenda njaa.
Lazy people are often fast asleep, but idleness means they're hungry.
16 Yeye anayetii amri huyaongoza maisha yake, bali mtu asiyefikiri juu ya njia zake atakufa.
Keep the commandments, and you'll live; despise them and you'll die.
17 Mwenye ukarimu kwa masikini humkopesha Yehova na atalipwa kwa kile alichofanya.
If you're kind to the poor, you're lending to the Lord, and he will repay you well for what you've done.
18 Mrudi mwanao wakati kuna matumaini na usiwe na shauku ya kumweka katika mauti.
Discipline your son while there's still hope, but don't kill him.
19 Mtu mwenye hasira kali lazima alipe adhabu; kama ukimwokoa, utafanya hivyo mara mbili.
People who often get angry have to pay the penalty; if you help them, you'll have to do it again.
20 Sikiliza ushauri na ukubali maelekezo, ili uweze kuwa na hekima mwishoni mwa maisha yako.
Listen to advice and accept instruction so that you'll eventually become wise.
21 Moyoni mwa mtu kuna mipango mingi, bali kusudi la Yehova ndilo litakalo simama.
Human beings make many plans in their minds, but the final decision is the Lord's.
22 Shauku ya mtu ni uaminifu na mtu masikini ni bora kuliko muongo.
The most desirable thing in anyone is trustworthy love; it is better to be poor than a liar.
23 Kumheshimu Yehova huwaelekeza watu kwenye uzima; mwenye nayo atashibishwa na hatadhurika kwa madhara.
Honoring the Lord is life, and you will rest contentedly, safe from harm.
24 Mtu goigoi huuzika mkono wake ndani ya dishi; hataurudisha juu ya kinywa chake.
Lazy people put their hands in a dish, and won't even lift the food to their mouths.
25 Kama utampiga mwenye mzaha, wajinga watakuwa na hekima; mwelekeze mwenye ufahamu, naye atapata maarifa.
If you punish someone who mocks, you may help an immature person to learn. Correct the wise, and they become wiser.
26 Anayempora baba yake na kumfukuza mama yake ni mwana anayeleta aibu na shutuma.
A son who abuses his father and chases away his mother brings shame and disgrace.
27 Mwanangu, kama utaacha kusikiliza maelekezo, utapotea kutoka kwenye maneno ya maarifa.
My son, stop listening to my instruction and you'll soon give up following wisdom.
28 Shahidi mpotofu huidhihaki haki na kinywa cha waovu humeza uovu.
A crooked witness makes a mockery of justice; and the wicked wolf down evil.
29 Hukumu ipo tayari kwa wenye dhihaka na mjeledi kwa migongo ya wapumbavu.
Punishment is ready for those who mock; flogging is ready for the backs of the stupid.
