Mithali 20
1 Divai ni dhihaka na kinywaji kikali ni mgomvi; anayepotea kwa kunywa hana busara.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And he that reeleth with it is not wise.
2 Kumwogopa mfalme ni kama kumwogopa simba kijana aungurumaye, yeyote anayemkasirisha hutoa fidia ya maish yake.
The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion; He who provoketh him sinneth against himself.
3 Ni heshima kwa mtu yeyote kujiepusha na mafarakano, bali kila mpumbavu hurukia kwenye mabishano.
It is an honor to a man to cease from strife; Bur every fool rusheth into it.
4 Mtu mvivu halimi majira ya kipupwe; hutafuta mazao wakati wa mavuno lakini hapati kitu.
The sluggard will not plough 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.
A design in the heart of a man is like deep waters; But a man of understanding draweth it out.
6 Mara nyingi mtu husema yeye ni mwaminifu, lakini ni nani awezaye kumpata yule mwaminifu?
Many will proclaim their own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?
7 Mtu atendaye haki hutembea katika uaminifu wake na wana wake wanaofuata baada yake wanafuraha.
He who walketh in his integrity is a righteous man; 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.
The king, sitting upon the throne of judgment, Scattereth with his eyes all the wicked like chaff.
9 Nani anayeweza kusema, “Nimeuweka safi moyo wangu; nipo huru na dhambi zangu”?
Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean; I am free from my sin?”
10 Mizani tofauti na vipimo visivyosawa - Yehova huvichukia vyote.
Divers weights and divers measures, —Both of them are an abomination to the LORD.
11 Hata kijana hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kwa mwenendo wake kama ni safi na uadilifu.
Even in childhood one maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his actions will be pure and right.
12 Masikio yanayosikia na macho yanayoona- Yehova aliyafanya yote.
The ear that heareth, and the eye that seeth, —The LORD made them both.
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.
“Bad! bad!” saith the buyer; But when he hath 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 abundance of pearls; But the lips of knowledge are a precious vase.
16 Chukua vazi kama mmiliki wake ataweka fedha kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni, na lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa uzinifu.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
17 Mkate uliopatikana kwa ulaghai unaladha tamu, lakini baadaye kinywa chake kitajaa kokoto.
The bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Mipango huimarishwa kwa ushauri na kwa mwongozo wa busara utapigana vita.
Purposes are established by counsel; Therefore with good advice make war.
19 Mmbea hufunua siri na kwa hiyo hupaswi kushirikiana na watu ambao huongea sana.
He who goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore associate not with him who keepeth open 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 midnight darkness.
21 Urithi uliopatikana mwanzoni kwa haraka utakuwa na mema kidogo mwishoni.
A possession may be gotten hastily in the beginning, But in the end it will not be blessed.
22 Usiseme “Mimi nitakulipiza kwa kosa hili” Msubiri Yehova na yeye atakuokoa.
Say not thou, “I will repay evil;” 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 to the LORD, And a false balance is not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Yehova; namna gani basi ataifahamu njia yake?
A man's steps are from the LORD; How, then, can a man understand his 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 utter a vow rashly, And after vows to consider.
26 Mfalme mwenye busara huwapepeta waovu na huligeuza juu yao gurudumu la kupuria.
A wise king scattereth the wicked like chaff, And bringeth over them the wheel.
27 Roho ya mtu ni taa ya Yehova, hutafiti sehemu zake zote za ndani kabisa.
The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD, Which searcheth all the inner chambers of his body.
28 Agano la uaminifu na udhamini humhifadhi mfalme; kiti chake cha enzi hufanywa thabiti kwa upendo.
Mercy and truth preserve the king; Yea, 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.
Wounding stripes are the remedy for a bad man; Yea, stripes which reach to the inner chambers of the body.
