Mithali 20
1 Divai ni dhihaka na kinywaji kikali ni mgomvi; anayepotea kwa kunywa hana busara.
Wine is, a scoffer, and strong drink, a brawler, every one therefore who erreth therein, is unwise.
2 Kumwogopa mfalme ni kama kumwogopa simba kijana aungurumaye, yeyote anayemkasirisha hutoa fidia ya maish yake.
The growl as of a young lion, is the dread inspired by a king, he that provoketh him, endangereth his own life.
3 Ni heshima kwa mtu yeyote kujiepusha na mafarakano, bali kila mpumbavu hurukia kwenye mabishano.
Honour, hath the man who sitteth away from strife, but, any fool, may break through.
4 Mtu mvivu halimi majira ya kipupwe; hutafuta mazao wakati wa mavuno lakini hapati kitu.
By reason of the autumn, a sluggard will not plough, therefore shall he beg in harvest, and there be nothing.
5 Makusudi ndani ya moyo wa mtu ni kama maji yenye kina, bali mtu mwenye ufahamu huyateka.
Deep water, is counsel in a man’s heart, but, a man of understanding, will draw it out.
6 Mara nyingi mtu husema yeye ni mwaminifu, lakini ni nani awezaye kumpata yule mwaminifu?
A kind man one may call, a great man, —but, a faithful man, who can find?
7 Mtu atendaye haki hutembea katika uaminifu wake na wana wake wanaofuata baada yake wanafuraha.
As for a righteous man, walking in his integrity, how happy 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 sitting on the throne of judgment, scattereth, with his eyes, all wrong.
9 Nani anayeweza kusema, “Nimeuweka safi moyo wangu; nipo huru na dhambi zangu”?
Who can say, I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin?
10 Mizani tofauti na vipimo visivyosawa - Yehova huvichukia vyote.
Divers weights, and divers measures, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
11 Hata kijana hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kwa mwenendo wake kama ni safi na uadilifu.
Even, by his doings, doth a youth make himself known, whether, pure and upright, be his work.
12 Masikio yanayosikia na macho yanayoona- Yehova aliyafanya yote.
The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh hath made them, both.
13 Usipende usingizi au utakuwa masikini; fumbua macho yako na utakuwa na vyakula tele.
Do not love sleep, lest thou come to poverty, open thine eyes, be satisfied with bread.
14 “Mbaya! Mbaya!” anasema mnunuzi, lakini akiondoka anajisifu.
Bad! bad! saith the buyer, but, going his way, then, he boasteth.
15 Ipo dhahabu na mawe ya thamani, lakini midomo yenye maarifa ni kito cha thamani.
There are gold, and an abundance of corals, but, precious jewels, 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 his garment who is pledge for a stranger, —then, for a woman unknown, accept him as surety.
17 Mkate uliopatikana kwa ulaghai unaladha tamu, lakini baadaye kinywa chake kitajaa kokoto.
Sweet to a man, may be the bread of falsehood, but, afterward, shall his mouth be filled with gravel.
18 Mipango huimarishwa kwa ushauri na kwa mwongozo wa busara utapigana vita.
Plans—by counsel, shalt thou establish, and, with concerted measures, make thou war.
19 Mmbea hufunua siri na kwa hiyo hupaswi kushirikiana na watu ambao huongea sana.
A revealer of secrets, is one who goeth about talebearing, therefore, with him who openeth his lips, shalt thou not have fellowship.
20 Kama mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itapulizwa katikati ya giza.
Whoso revileth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21 Urithi uliopatikana mwanzoni kwa haraka utakuwa na mema kidogo mwishoni.
An inheritance hastily gotten at the beginning, the latter end thereof, shall not bring blessing.
22 Usiseme “Mimi nitakulipiza kwa kosa hili” Msubiri Yehova na yeye atakuokoa.
Do not say, I will requite wrong! Wait thou for Yahweh that he may save thee.
23 Yehova huchukia mizani isiyo sawa na vipimo vya udanganyifu si vizuri.
An abomination to Yahweh, are divers weights, and, deceptive balances, are not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Yehova; namna gani basi ataifahamu njia yake?
From Yahweh, are a man’s steps, a son of earth, then—how can he discern 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, that he should rashly cry Holy! and, after making vows, to reflect!
26 Mfalme mwenye busara huwapepeta waovu na huligeuza juu yao gurudumu la kupuria.
A wise king, winnoweth out the lawless, when he hath turned over them the wheel.
27 Roho ya mtu ni taa ya Yehova, hutafiti sehemu zake zote za ndani kabisa.
The lamp of Yahweh, is the spirit of a son of earth, searching all the chambers of the inner man.
28 Agano la uaminifu na udhamini humhifadhi mfalme; kiti chake cha enzi hufanywa thabiti kwa upendo.
Lovingkindness and faithfulness, will guard a king, —therefore should he support, with lovingkindness, his throne.
29 Utukufu wa watu vijana ni nguvu zao na fahari ya watu wazee ni mvi zao.
The beauty of young men, is their strength, and, the ornament of old men, a hoary head.
30 Mapigo yanayoleta kidonda huusafisha ubaya na vichapo hufanya sehemu za ndani kabisa kuwa safi.
Blows that cut in, cleanse away wickedness, and, smitings, [enter] the chambers of the inner man.
