Mithali 21
1 Moyo wa mfalme ni mfereji wa maji katika mkono wa Yehova; anaugeuza popote anakopenda.
The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
2 Kila njia ya mtu ni sawa katika macho yake mwenyewe, lakini ni Yehova anayeipima mioyo.
All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3 Kutenda haki na adili hukubaliwa zaidi na Yehova kuliko sadaka.
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Macho ya kiburi na moyo wa majivuno- taa ya waovu- ni dhambi.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the guides of the wicked—are sin.
5 Mipango ya mwenye juhudi huelekea kwenye mafanikio tu, bali kila mtu anayetenda kwa haraka huelekea umasikini.
The plans of the diligent bring plenty, as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6 Kujipatia utajiri kwa ulimi wa uongo ni mvuke unaopita upesi na mtego ambao unafisha.
Making a fortune by a lying tongue is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
7 Vurugu ya waovu itawaburuta mbali, maana wanakataa kutenda haki.
The violence of the wicked will sweep them away because they refuse to do what is just.
8 Njia ya mwenye hatia ni ukatiri, bali mwenye usafi hutenda yaliyo ya haki.
The way of a guilty man is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9 Bora kuishi kwenye kona ya juu darini kuliko katika nyumba pamoja na mke mgonvi.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Hamu ya mwovu ni uchu wa mabaya; jirani yake haoni ukarimu katika macho yake.
The soul of the wicked man craves evil; his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 Mwenye dhihaka anapoadhibiwa mjinga hupata busara, na mtu mwenye busara anapofundishwa, anaongeza maarifa.
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
12 Atendaye haki huilinda nyumba ya mwovu; huwashusha waovu kwenye uharibifu.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked and brings the wicked to ruin.
13 Anayeziba masikio yake kwenye kilio cha masikini, pia atalia, lakini hatajibiwa.
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
14 Zawadi ya siri hutuliza hasira na zawadi ya kificho hutuliza ghadhabu kuu.
A gift in secret soothes anger, and a covert bribe pacifies great wrath.
15 Haki ikitendeka, huleta furaha kwa mwenye kutenda wema, lakini huleta hofu kubwa kwa watenda mabaya.
Justice executed is a joy to the righteous, but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
16 Yule anayezurura kutoka kwenye njia ya ufahamu, atapumzika kwenye kusanyiko la wafu.
The man who strays from the path of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Anayependa raha atakuwa masikini; anayependa divai na mafuta hawezi kuwa tajiri.
He who loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 Mtu mbaya ni fidia kwa yule atendaye haki, na mdanganyifu ni fidia kwa waaminifu.
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.
19 Bora kuishi jangwani kuliko kuishi pamoja na mwanamke ambaye huchochea sana ugomvi na malalamiko.
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
20 Hazina yenye thamani na mafuta vipo nyumbani kwa mwenye busara, bali mtu mpumbavu huviharibu.
Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man consumes them.
21 Mtu atendaye haki na mwema -huyu mtu hupata uzima, haki na heshima.
He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 Mtu mwenye busara huupima mji wa mashujaa, na huiangusha ngome wanayoitumaini.
A wise man scales the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Anayelinda kinywa chake na ulimi wake hujilinda mwenyewe na taabu.
He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from distress.
24 Mtu mwenye kiburi na maringo- “Dhihaka” ndilo jina lake - hutenda kwa majivuno na kujidai.
Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man— of him who acts with excessive pride.
25 Shauku ya mtu mvivu itamuua, maana mikono yake hukataa kufanya kazi.
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
26 Kwa siku nzima hupatwa na uchu na uchu zaidi, lakini atendaye haki hutoa na wala hazuii.
All day long he covets more, but the righteous give without restraint.
27 Sadaka ya mwovu ni chukizo; huwa ni chukizo zaidi anapoileta kwa nia mbaya.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable— how much more so when brought with ill intent!
28 Shahidi wa uongo ataangamia, bali anayesikiliza ataongea kwa muda wote.
A lying witness will perish, but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
29 Mtu mwovu huufanya uso wake kuwa mgumu, bali mtu mwadilifu ni thabiti juu ya njia zake.
A wicked man hardens his face, but the upright man makes his way sure.
30 Hakuna hekima, hakuna ufahamu, na hakuna shauri linaloweza kusimama kinyume na Yehova.
There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel that can prevail against the LORD.
31 Farasi hutayarishwa kwa siku ya mapigano, lakini ushindi hupatikana kwa Yehova.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory is of the LORD.
