Mithali 21
1 Moyo wa mfalme ni mfereji wa maji katika mkono wa Yehova; anaugeuza popote anakopenda.
The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh; he turns it wherever he pleases.
2 Kila njia ya mtu ni sawa katika macho yake mwenyewe, lakini ni Yehova anayeipima mioyo.
Every person's way is right in his own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.
3 Kutenda haki na adili hukubaliwa zaidi na Yehova kuliko sadaka.
To do what is right and just is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
4 Macho ya kiburi na moyo wa majivuno- taa ya waovu- ni dhambi.
Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the lamp 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 lead only to prosperity, but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.
6 Kujipatia utajiri kwa ulimi wa uongo ni mvuke unaopita upesi na mtego ambao unafisha.
Acquiring riches by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare that kills.
7 Vurugu ya waovu itawaburuta mbali, maana wanakataa kutenda haki.
The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for 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 person is crooked, but the one who is pure does what is right.
9 Bora kuishi kwenye kona ya juu darini kuliko katika nyumba pamoja na mke mgonvi.
It is better to live on a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 Hamu ya mwovu ni uchu wa mabaya; jirani yake haoni ukarimu katika macho yake.
The appetite of the wicked 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 the mocker is punished, the naive become wise, and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.
12 Atendaye haki huilinda nyumba ya mwovu; huwashusha waovu kwenye uharibifu.
The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person; he brings wicked people to disaster.
13 Anayeziba masikio yake kwenye kilio cha masikini, pia atalia, lakini hatajibiwa.
The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.
14 Zawadi ya siri hutuliza hasira na zawadi ya kificho hutuliza ghadhabu kuu.
A gift in secret appeases anger and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.
15 Haki ikitendeka, huleta furaha kwa mwenye kutenda wema, lakini huleta hofu kubwa kwa watenda mabaya.
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person, but it brings terror to evildoers.
16 Yule anayezurura kutoka kwenye njia ya ufahamu, atapumzika kwenye kusanyiko la wafu.
The one who wanders from the way of understanding, he will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Anayependa raha atakuwa masikini; anayependa divai na mafuta hawezi kuwa tajiri.
Whoever loves pleasure will become poor; the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 Mtu mbaya ni fidia kwa yule atendaye haki, na mdanganyifu ni fidia kwa waaminifu.
A wicked person is ransom for the righteous person, and the treacherous person is ransom for upright people.
19 Bora kuishi jangwani kuliko kuishi pamoja na mwanamke ambaye huchochea sana ugomvi na malalamiko.
It is better to live in the desert than with a quarreling and angry wife.
20 Hazina yenye thamani na mafuta vipo nyumbani kwa mwenye busara, bali mtu mpumbavu huviharibu.
Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish person swallows it all up.
21 Mtu atendaye haki na mwema -huyu mtu hupata uzima, haki na heshima.
The one who does right and is kind— this person 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 ones, and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.
23 Anayelinda kinywa chake na ulimi wake hujilinda mwenyewe na taabu.
Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24 Mtu mwenye kiburi na maringo- “Dhihaka” ndilo jina lake - hutenda kwa majivuno na kujidai.
The proud and haughty person—”Mocker” is his name— acts with arrogant pride.
25 Shauku ya mtu mvivu itamuua, maana mikono yake hukataa kufanya kazi.
The desire of the lazy kills him, for 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 craves and craves more, but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.
27 Sadaka ya mwovu ni chukizo; huwa ni chukizo zaidi anapoileta kwa nia mbaya.
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable; it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.
28 Shahidi wa uongo ataangamia, bali anayesikiliza ataongea kwa muda wote.
A false witness will perish, but the one who listens will speak for all time.
29 Mtu mwovu huufanya uso wake kuwa mgumu, bali mtu mwadilifu ni thabiti juu ya njia zake.
A wicked man makes his face hard, but an upright person is certain about his ways.
30 Hakuna hekima, hakuna ufahamu, na hakuna shauri linaloweza kusimama kinyume na Yehova.
There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice that can stand against Yahweh.
31 Farasi hutayarishwa kwa siku ya mapigano, lakini ushindi hupatikana kwa Yehova.
The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh.
