< Mithali 29 >
1 Mtu aliyepokea makaripio mengi lakini anashupaza shingo yake atavunjika ndani ya muda mfupi na hata pona.
Anyone who goes on stubbornly rejecting many warnings will be suddenly destroyed, without hope of healing.
2 Watenda mema wanapoongezeka, watu wanafurahi, bali wakati mtu mwovu anapotawala, watu huugua.
When good people are in charge, everybody celebrates; but when the wicked rule, everybody groans.
3 Mwenye kupenda hekima baba yake anafurahi, bali anayeshikamana na makahaba huuharibu utajiri wake.
A man who loves wisdom makes his father happy, but one who visits prostitutes throws away his money.
4 Mfalme huimarisha nchi kwa haki, bali mwenye kudai rushwa huirarua.
A king who rules justly makes the country secure, but one who asks for bribes will destroy it.
5 Mtu anayejipendekeza kwa jirani yake anatandaza wavu kwenye miguu yake.
Those who flatter their friends lay a net to trip them up.
6 Mtu mbaya hunaswa kwenye mtego wa dhambi yake mwenyewe, bali yeye atendaye haki huimba na kufurahi.
Evil people are trapped by their own sins, but those who do right sing and celebrate.
7 Atendaye haki hutetea madai ya masikini; mtu mwovu hafahamu maarifa kama hayo.
Good people care about treating the poor fairly, but the wicked don't think about it at all.
8 Mwenye dhihaka huutia moto mji, bali wale wenye busara huigeuza ghadhabu.
Cynical people can inflame a whole city, but the wise calm angry people down.
9 Mtu mwenye busara anapojadiliana na mpumbavu, hughadhabika na kucheka, hakutakuwa na utulivu.
When a wise man takes a stupid man to court, there's raging and ridicule, but nothing is settled.
10 Mkatili humchukia mwenye ukamilifu na hutafuta maisha ya mwenye haki.
Murderers hate people of integrity, but those who live right try to help them.
11 Mpumabavu huonyesha hasira yake, bali mtu mwenye busara huishikilia na kujituliza mwenyewe.
Stupid people let all their anger out, while wise people quietly hold it in.
12 Kama matawala atazinagatia uongo, maafisa wake wote watakuwa waovu.
A ruler who listens to lies will have nothing but wicked officials.
13 Mtu masikini na mkandamizaji wanafanana, maana Yehova huyapa nuru macho yao wote.
Poor people and their oppressors have this in common: the Lord gives life to all of them.
14 Kama mfalme atamhukumu masikini kwa uaminifu, kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa milele.
If a king judges the poor fairly, he will have a long rule.
15 Fimbo na maonyo huleta hekima, bali mtoto huru mbali na makaripio humwaibisha mama yake.
Discipline and correction provide wisdom, but a son left undisciplined is an embarrassment to his mother.
16 Watu waovu wanapotawala, uovu huongezeka, bali wenye kutenda haki wataona anguko la watu waovu.
When the wicked are in power, sin increases; but the good will see their downfall.
17 Mwadibishe mwanao naye atakupa pumziko; ataleta furaha katika maisha yako.
Discipline your children and they won't give you any worries; they will make you very happy.
18 Pasipo na maono ya kinabii watu huenda bila utaratibu, bali mwenye kuitunza sheria amebarikiwa.
Without a revelation from God, the people go out of control, but those who keep the law are happy.
19 Mtumwa hawezi kurekebishwa kwa maneno, maana ingawa anaelewa, hakuna mwitikio.
A servant can't be disciplined by words alone; though they understand, they don't follow what they're told.
20 Je unamwona mtu mwenye haraka katika maneno yake? Kuna matumaini zaidi kwa mpumbavu kuliko kwake.
Have you seen a man who speaks without thinking? There's more hope for stupid people than for him!
21 Mwenye kumdekeza mtumwa wake tangu ujana, mwisho wake itakuwa taabu.
A servant indulged from childhood will in the end become unmanageable.
22 Mtu mwenye hasira huchochea ugomvi na bwana mwenye hasira sana hutenda dhambi nyingi.
Angry people stir up trouble, those with short tempers commit many sins.
23 Kiburi cha mtu humshusha chini, bali mwenye roho ya unyenyekevu atapewa heshima.
If you're proud, you'll be humiliated; but if you're humble, you'll be honored.
24 Anayeshirikiana na mwizi huyachukia maisha yake mwenyewe; husikia laana na wala hasemi chochote.
A thief's partner hates his life; even under the threat of being cursed he can't tell the truth.
25 Kumwogopa binadamu ni mtego, bali mwenye kumtumaini Yehova atalindwa.
Being afraid of people traps you, but if you trust in the Lord you're safe.
26 Wengi huutafuta uso wa mtawala, bali kutoka kwa Yehova huja haki kwa ajili yake.
Many people look for favors from a ruler, but justice comes from the Lord.
27 Mtu dhalimu ni chukizo kwa wenye kutenda haki, bali mwenye njia ya haki ni chukizo kwa watu waovu.
Good people hate those who are unjust; the wicked hate those who do what's right.