Mithali 20
1 Divai ni dhihaka na kinywaji kikali ni mgomvi; anayepotea kwa kunywa hana busara.
Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
2 Kumwogopa mfalme ni kama kumwogopa simba kijana aungurumaye, yeyote anayemkasirisha hutoa fidia ya maish yake.
The fear of a king [is] as the roaring of a lion: [whoso] provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own soul.
3 Ni heshima kwa mtu yeyote kujiepusha na mafarakano, bali kila mpumbavu hurukia kwenye mabishano.
[It is] an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 Mtu mvivu halimi majira ya kipupwe; hutafuta mazao wakati wa mavuno lakini hapati kitu.
The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] shall he beg in harvest, and [have] nothing.
5 Makusudi ndani ya moyo wa mtu ni kama maji yenye kina, bali mtu mwenye ufahamu huyateka.
Counsel in the heart of man [is like] deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6 Mara nyingi mtu husema yeye ni mwaminifu, lakini ni nani awezaye kumpata yule mwaminifu?
Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 Mtu atendaye haki hutembea katika uaminifu wake na wana wake wanaofuata baada yake wanafuraha.
The just [man] walketh in his integrity: his children [are] blessed after him.
8 Mfalme anayeketi kwenye kiti cha hukumu akifanya kazi za kuhukumu hupembua kwa macho yake mabaya yote yaliyoko mbele yake.
A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
9 Nani anayeweza kusema, “Nimeuweka safi moyo wangu; nipo huru na dhambi zangu”?
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10 Mizani tofauti na vipimo visivyosawa - Yehova huvichukia vyote.
Divers weights, [and] divers measures, both of them [are] alike abomination to the LORD.
11 Hata kijana hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kwa mwenendo wake kama ni safi na uadilifu.
Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work [be] pure, and whether [it be] right.
12 Masikio yanayosikia na macho yanayoona- Yehova aliyafanya yote.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
13 Usipende usingizi au utakuwa masikini; fumbua macho yako na utakuwa na vyakula tele.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 “Mbaya! Mbaya!” anasema mnunuzi, lakini akiondoka anajisifu.
[It is] naught, [it is] naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
15 Ipo dhahabu na mawe ya thamani, lakini midomo yenye maarifa ni kito cha thamani.
There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge [are] a precious jewel.
16 Chukua vazi kama mmiliki wake ataweka fedha kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni, na lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa uzinifu.
Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
17 Mkate uliopatikana kwa ulaghai unaladha tamu, lakini baadaye kinywa chake kitajaa kokoto.
Bread of deceit [is] sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Mipango huimarishwa kwa ushauri na kwa mwongozo wa busara utapigana vita.
[Every] purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
19 Mmbea hufunua siri na kwa hiyo hupaswi kushirikiana na watu ambao huongea sana.
He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 Kama mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itapulizwa katikati ya giza.
Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 Urithi uliopatikana mwanzoni kwa haraka utakuwa na mema kidogo mwishoni.
An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Usiseme “Mimi nitakulipiza kwa kosa hili” Msubiri Yehova na yeye atakuokoa.
Say not thou, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
23 Yehova huchukia mizani isiyo sawa na vipimo vya udanganyifu si vizuri.
Divers weights [are] an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance [is] not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Yehova; namna gani basi ataifahamu njia yake?
Man’s goings [are] of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
25 Ni mtego kwa mtu kusema kwa pupa, “Kitu hiki ni kitakatifu” na kuanza kufikiri juu yake kwamba kina maana gani baada ya kufanya kiapo.
[It is] a snare to the man [who] devoureth [that which is] holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
26 Mfalme mwenye busara huwapepeta waovu na huligeuza juu yao gurudumu la kupuria.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
27 Roho ya mtu ni taa ya Yehova, hutafiti sehemu zake zote za ndani kabisa.
The spirit of man [is] the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
28 Agano la uaminifu na udhamini humhifadhi mfalme; kiti chake cha enzi hufanywa thabiti kwa upendo.
Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
29 Utukufu wa watu vijana ni nguvu zao na fahari ya watu wazee ni mvi zao.
The glory of young men [is] their strength: and the beauty of old men [is] the gray head.
30 Mapigo yanayoleta kidonda huusafisha ubaya na vichapo hufanya sehemu za ndani kabisa kuwa safi.
The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so [do] stripes the inward parts of the belly.
