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 whosoever erreth thereby 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 as the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life.
3 Ni heshima kwa mtu yeyote kujiepusha na mafarakano, bali kila mpumbavu hurukia kwenye mabishano.
It is an honour for a man to keep aloof from strife: but every fool will be quarrelling.
4 Mtu mvivu halimi majira ya kipupwe; hutafuta mazao wakati wa mavuno lakini hapati kitu.
The slothful will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall 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 wilt proclaim every one his own kindness: but a faithful man who can find?
7 Mtu atendaye haki hutembea katika uaminifu wake na wana wake wanaofuata baada yake wanafuraha.
A just man that walketh in his integrity, blessed are 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 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 alike are an abomination to 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 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 abundance 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 hold him in pledge [that is surety] for strangers.
17 Mkate uliopatikana kwa ulaghai unaladha tamu, lakini baadaye kinywa chake kitajaa kokoto.
Bread of falsehood 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 by wise guidance make thou 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 openeth wide 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 the blackest 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: 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 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 goings are of the LORD; how then can 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 rashly to say, [It is] holy, and after vows to make inquiry.
26 Mfalme mwenye busara huwapepeta waovu na huligeuza juu yao gurudumu la kupuria.
A wise king winnoweth the wicked, and bringeth the [threshing] wheel over them.
27 Roho ya mtu ni taa ya Yehova, hutafiti sehemu zake zote za ndani kabisa.
The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all the innermost 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 hoary head.
30 Mapigo yanayoleta kidonda huusafisha ubaya na vichapo hufanya sehemu za ndani kabisa kuwa safi.
Stripes that wound cleanse away evil: and strokes [reach] the innermost parts of the belly.
