Mithali 21
1 Moyo wa mfalme ni mfereji wa maji katika mkono wa Yehova; anaugeuza popote anakopenda.
As a rush of water, so is the king's heart in God's hand: he turns it wherever he may desire to point out.
2 Kila njia ya mtu ni sawa katika macho yake mwenyewe, lakini ni Yehova anayeipima mioyo.
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 Kutenda haki na adili hukubaliwa zaidi na Yehova kuliko sadaka.
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 Macho ya kiburi na moyo wa majivuno- taa ya waovu- ni dhambi.
A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 Mipango ya mwenye juhudi huelekea kwenye mafanikio tu, bali kila mtu anayetenda kwa haraka huelekea umasikini.
6 Kujipatia utajiri kwa ulimi wa uongo ni mvuke unaopita upesi na mtego ambao unafisha.
He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
7 Vurugu ya waovu itawaburuta mbali, maana wanakataa kutenda haki.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 Njia ya mwenye hatia ni ukatiri, bali mwenye usafi hutenda yaliyo ya haki.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
9 Bora kuishi kwenye kona ya juu darini kuliko katika nyumba pamoja na mke mgonvi.
[It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 Hamu ya mwovu ni uchu wa mabaya; jirani yake haoni ukarimu katika macho yake.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
11 Mwenye dhihaka anapoadhibiwa mjinga hupata busara, na mtu mwenye busara anapofundishwa, anaongeza maarifa.
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 Atendaye haki huilinda nyumba ya mwovu; huwashusha waovu kwenye uharibifu.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 Anayeziba masikio yake kwenye kilio cha masikini, pia atalia, lakini hatajibiwa.
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
14 Zawadi ya siri hutuliza hasira na zawadi ya kificho hutuliza ghadhabu kuu.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 Haki ikitendeka, huleta furaha kwa mwenye kutenda wema, lakini huleta hofu kubwa kwa watenda mabaya.
[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
16 Yule anayezurura kutoka kwenye njia ya ufahamu, atapumzika kwenye kusanyiko la wafu.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
17 Anayependa raha atakuwa masikini; anayependa divai na mafuta hawezi kuwa tajiri.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 Mtu mbaya ni fidia kwa yule atendaye haki, na mdanganyifu ni fidia kwa waaminifu.
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
19 Bora kuishi jangwani kuliko kuishi pamoja na mwanamke ambaye huchochea sana ugomvi na malalamiko.
[It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 Hazina yenye thamani na mafuta vipo nyumbani kwa mwenye busara, bali mtu mpumbavu huviharibu.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 Mtu atendaye haki na mwema -huyu mtu hupata uzima, haki na heshima.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
22 Mtu mwenye busara huupima mji wa mashujaa, na huiangusha ngome wanayoitumaini.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 Anayelinda kinywa chake na ulimi wake hujilinda mwenyewe na taabu.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 Mtu mwenye kiburi na maringo- “Dhihaka” ndilo jina lake - hutenda kwa majivuno na kujidai.
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 Shauku ya mtu mvivu itamuua, maana mikono yake hukataa kufanya kazi.
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 Kwa siku nzima hupatwa na uchu na uchu zaidi, lakini atendaye haki hutoa na wala hazuii.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
27 Sadaka ya mwovu ni chukizo; huwa ni chukizo zaidi anapoileta kwa nia mbaya.
The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 Shahidi wa uongo ataangamia, bali anayesikiliza ataongea kwa muda wote.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 Mtu mwovu huufanya uso wake kuwa mgumu, bali mtu mwadilifu ni thabiti juu ya njia zake.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
30 Hakuna hekima, hakuna ufahamu, na hakuna shauri linaloweza kusimama kinyume na Yehova.
There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
31 Farasi hutayarishwa kwa siku ya mapigano, lakini ushindi hupatikana kwa Yehova.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
