Mithali 20
1 Divai ni dhihaka na kinywaji kikali ni mgomvi; anayepotea kwa kunywa hana busara.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy; and whosoever indulgeth therein will never be wise.
2 Kumwogopa mfalme ni kama kumwogopa simba kijana aungurumaye, yeyote anayemkasirisha hutoa fidia ya maish yake.
Like the roaring of a young lion is the dread of a king: 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 honor for a man to cease from a contest; but every fool enrageth himself.
4 Mtu mvivu halimi majira ya kipupwe; hutafuta mazao wakati wa mavuno lakini hapati kitu.
Because it is winter's cold, will the sluggard not plough: when he therefore seeketh in the harvest time, there will be nothing.
5 Makusudi ndani ya moyo wa mtu ni kama maji yenye kina, bali mtu mwenye ufahamu huyateka.
Like deep water is counsel in the heart of man; but the 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 kindness; but who can find a faithful man?
7 Mtu atendaye haki hutembea katika uaminifu wake na wana wake wanaofuata baada yake wanafuraha.
The righteous walketh in his integrity: happy will be his children 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 on the throne of justice scattereth away with his eyes all evil.
9 Nani anayeweza kusema, “Nimeuweka safi moyo wangu; nipo huru na dhambi zangu”?
Who can say, I have made my heart pure, I am cleansed from my sin.
10 Mizani tofauti na vipimo visivyosawa - Yehova huvichukia vyote.
Divers weights, and divers measures, are both of them alike an abomination of the Lord.
11 Hata kijana hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kwa mwenendo wake kama ni safi na uadilifu.
Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, whether his work will be pure, and whether it will be upright.
12 Masikio yanayosikia na macho yanayoona- Yehova aliyafanya yote.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, the Lord hath made both of them alike.
13 Usipende usingizi au utakuwa masikini; fumbua macho yako na utakuwa na vyakula tele.
Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty: open thy eyes, so wilt thou be satisfied with bread.
14 “Mbaya! Mbaya!” anasema mnunuzi, lakini akiondoka anajisifu.
It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then doth he boast.
15 Ipo dhahabu na mawe ya thamani, lakini midomo yenye maarifa ni kito cha thamani.
There is gold, and a multitude of pearls; but a precious vessel are the lips of knowledge.
16 Chukua vazi kama mmiliki wake ataweka fedha kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni, na lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa uzinifu.
Take away his garment, because he hath become surety for a stranger; and on account of a strange woman take a pledge from him.
17 Mkate uliopatikana kwa ulaghai unaladha tamu, lakini baadaye kinywa chake kitajaa kokoto.
Bread of falsehood is pleasant to a man; but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel-stones.
18 Mipango huimarishwa kwa ushauri na kwa mwongozo wa busara utapigana vita.
Plans are established by counsel; and with wise reflection conduct 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 enticeth 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 quenched in obscure darkness.
21 Urithi uliopatikana mwanzoni kwa haraka utakuwa na mema kidogo mwishoni.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning will at its end not be blessed,
22 Usiseme “Mimi nitakulipiza kwa kosa hili” Msubiri Yehova na yeye atakuokoa.
Do not say, I will recompense evil; [but] wait on the Lord, and he will help thee.
23 Yehova huchukia mizani isiyo sawa na vipimo vya udanganyifu si vizuri.
Divers weights are an abomination of the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Yehova; namna gani basi ataifahamu njia yake?
From the Lord are the steps of man [ordained]; but man— how can he 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 a man to sanctify things hastily, and to make inquiry only after having made vows.
26 Mfalme mwenye busara huwapepeta waovu na huligeuza juu yao gurudumu la kupuria.
A wise king scattereth the wicked, and turneth over them the threshing-wheel.
27 Roho ya mtu ni taa ya Yehova, hutafiti sehemu zake zote za ndani kabisa.
A lamp of the Lord is the soul of man, searching all the inner chambers of the body.
28 Agano la uaminifu na udhamini humhifadhi mfalme; kiti chake cha enzi hufanywa thabiti kwa upendo.
Kindness and truth will watch over a king, and he will prop up through kindness his throne.
29 Utukufu wa watu vijana ni nguvu zao na fahari ya watu wazee ni mvi zao.
The ornament of young men is their strength; and the glory of old men is a hoary head.
30 Mapigo yanayoleta kidonda huusafisha ubaya na vichapo hufanya sehemu za ndani kabisa kuwa safi.
The bruises of a wound are cleansing means for the bad, and stripes [will reach] the inner chambers of the body.
