Mithali 21
1 Moyo wa mfalme ni mfereji wa maji katika mkono wa Yehova; anaugeuza popote anakopenda.
As streams of water, So is the heart of the king in the hand of the LORD; He turneth it whithersoever he will.
2 Kila njia ya mtu ni sawa katika macho yake mwenyewe, lakini ni Yehova anayeipima mioyo.
All the ways of a man are right in his own eyes; But the LORD weigheth the heart.
3 Kutenda haki na adili hukubaliwa zaidi na Yehova kuliko sadaka.
To do justice and equity Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Macho ya kiburi na moyo wa majivuno- taa ya waovu- ni dhambi.
The lofty look, the proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is ruin.
5 Mipango ya mwenye juhudi huelekea kwenye mafanikio tu, bali kila mtu anayetenda kwa haraka huelekea umasikini.
The plans of the diligent tend only to plenty; But the hasty hasteneth only to want.
6 Kujipatia utajiri kwa ulimi wa uongo ni mvuke unaopita upesi na mtego ambao unafisha.
The getting of treasures by a false tongue Is the fleeting breath of them that seek death.
7 Vurugu ya waovu itawaburuta mbali, maana wanakataa kutenda haki.
The rapine of the wicked shall snatch them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
8 Njia ya mwenye hatia ni ukatiri, bali mwenye usafi hutenda yaliyo ya haki.
The way of the guilty man is crooked; But he that is pure, his doings are right.
9 Bora kuishi kwenye kona ya juu darini kuliko katika nyumba pamoja na mke mgonvi.
Better is it to dwell in a corner of the housetop Than with a brawling woman in a large house.
10 Hamu ya mwovu ni uchu wa mabaya; jirani yake haoni ukarimu katika macho yake.
The soul of the wicked longeth to do evil; His neighbor findeth no compassion in his eyes.
11 Mwenye dhihaka anapoadhibiwa mjinga hupata busara, na mtu mwenye busara anapofundishwa, anaongeza maarifa.
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; When the wise man is taught, he receiveth knowledge.
12 Atendaye haki huilinda nyumba ya mwovu; huwashusha waovu kwenye uharibifu.
The righteous man hath regard to the house of the wicked; He casteth the wicked headlong into ruin.
13 Anayeziba masikio yake kwenye kilio cha masikini, pia atalia, lakini hatajibiwa.
Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry aloud, but shall not be heard.
14 Zawadi ya siri hutuliza hasira na zawadi ya kificho hutuliza ghadhabu kuu.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.
15 Haki ikitendeka, huleta furaha kwa mwenye kutenda wema, lakini huleta hofu kubwa kwa watenda mabaya.
To do justice shall be joy to the righteous; But destruction is for them that do iniquity.
16 Yule anayezurura kutoka kwenye njia ya ufahamu, atapumzika kwenye kusanyiko la wafu.
A man who wandereth from the way of discretion Shall rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Anayependa raha atakuwa masikini; anayependa divai na mafuta hawezi kuwa tajiri.
He that loveth pleasure will be a poor man; He that loveth wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Mtu mbaya ni fidia kwa yule atendaye haki, na mdanganyifu ni fidia kwa waaminifu.
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous! And in the room of the upright shall be the transgressor.
19 Bora kuishi jangwani kuliko kuishi pamoja na mwanamke ambaye huchochea sana ugomvi na malalamiko.
It is better to dwell in a desert land Than with a contentious and fretful woman.
20 Hazina yenye thamani na mafuta vipo nyumbani kwa mwenye busara, bali mtu mpumbavu huviharibu.
Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of the wise; But the foolish man swalloweth them up.
21 Mtu atendaye haki na mwema -huyu mtu hupata uzima, haki na heshima.
He who followeth after righteousness and mercy Shall find life, prosperity, and honor.
22 Mtu mwenye busara huupima mji wa mashujaa, na huiangusha ngome wanayoitumaini.
A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength in which it trusted.
23 Anayelinda kinywa chake na ulimi wake hujilinda mwenyewe na taabu.
Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from trouble.
24 Mtu mwenye kiburi na maringo- “Dhihaka” ndilo jina lake - hutenda kwa majivuno na kujidai.
The proud and haughty, —scoffer is his name; He acteth with haughty arrogance.
25 Shauku ya mtu mvivu itamuua, maana mikono yake hukataa kufanya kazi.
The desire of the sluggard will destroy him; For his hands refuse to labor.
26 Kwa siku nzima hupatwa na uchu na uchu zaidi, lakini atendaye haki hutoa na wala hazuii.
The covetous man coveteth all the day long; But the righteous man giveth, and doth not withhold.
27 Sadaka ya mwovu ni chukizo; huwa ni chukizo zaidi anapoileta kwa nia mbaya.
The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he bringeth it with an evil design!
28 Shahidi wa uongo ataangamia, bali anayesikiliza ataongea kwa muda wote.
A false witness shall perish; But a man that hearkeneth shall speak forever.
29 Mtu mwovu huufanya uso wake kuwa mgumu, bali mtu mwadilifu ni thabiti juu ya njia zake.
The wicked man hardeneth his face; But the upright directeth his way.
30 Hakuna hekima, hakuna ufahamu, na hakuna shauri linaloweza kusimama kinyume na Yehova.
Wisdom is nothing, and understanding is nothing, And devices are nothing, against the LORD.
31 Farasi hutayarishwa kwa siku ya mapigano, lakini ushindi hupatikana kwa Yehova.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle; But victory is from the LORD.
