Mithali 21
1 Moyo wa mfalme uko katika mkono wa Bwana; huuongoza kama mkondo wa maji, popote apendapo.
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 Njia zote za mwanadamu huonekana sawa kwake, bali Bwana huupima moyo.
Every man seems to himself righteous; but the Lord directs the hearts.
3 Kufanya yaliyo sawa na haki inakubalika zaidi kwa Bwana kuliko dhabihu.
To do justly and to speak truth, are more pleasing to God than the blood of sacrifices.
4 Macho ya kudharau na moyo wa kiburi, ambavyo ni taa ya waovu, vyote ni dhambi!
A high-minded man is stout-hearted in [his] pride; and the lamp of the wicked is sin.
5 Mipango ya mwenye bidii huelekeza kwenye faida, kama vile kwa hakika pupa huelekeza kwenye umaskini.
6 Mali iliyopatikana kwa ulimi wa uongo ni mvuke upitao upesi na mtego wa kufisha.
He that gathers treasures with a lying tongue pursues vanity [on] to the snares of death.
7 Jeuri ya waovu itawaburuta mbali, kwa kuwa wanakataa kufanya yaliyo sawa.
Destruction shall lodge with the ungodly; for they refuse to do justly.
8 Njia ya mwenye hatia ni ya upotovu, bali tabia ya mtu asiye na hatia ni nyofu.
To the froward God sends froward ways; for his works are pure and right.
9 Ni afadhali kuishi pembeni mwa paa la nyumba, kuliko kuishi nyumba moja na mke mgomvi.
[It is] better to dwell in a corner on the house-top, than in plastered [rooms] with unrighteousness, and in an open house.
10 Mtu mwovu hutamani sana ubaya, jirani yake hapati huruma kutoka kwake.
The soul of the ungodly shall not be pitied by any man.
11 Wakati mwenye mzaha ameadhibiwa, mjinga hupata hekima; wakati mtu mwenye hekima afundishwapo, hupata maarifa.
When an intemperate man is punished the simple becomes wiser: and a wise man understanding will receive knowledge.
12 Mwenye Haki huyajua yanayotendeka katika nyumba za waovu, naye atawaangamiza waovu.
A righteous man understands the hearts of the ungodly: and despises the ungodly for their wickedness.
13 Mtu akiziba masikio asisikie kilio cha maskini, yeye pia atalia, wala hatajibiwa.
He that stops his ears from hearing the poor, himself also shall cry, and there shall be none to hear [him].
14 Zawadi itolewayo kwa siri hutuliza hasira na rushwa iliyofichwa kwenye nguo hutuliza ghadhabu kali.
A secret gift calms anger: but he that forbears to give stirs up strong wrath.
15 Wakati haki imetendeka, huleta furaha kwa wenye haki, bali kitisho kwa watenda mabaya.
[It is] the joy of the righteous to do judgment: but a holy [man] is abominable with evil-doers.
16 Mtu anayepotea kutoka mapito ya ufahamu, hupumzika katika kundi la waliokufa.
A man that wanders out of the way of righteousness, shall rest in the congregation of giants.
17 Mtu apendaye anasa atakuwa maskini, yeyote apendaye mvinyo na mafuta kamwe hatakuwa tajiri.
A poor man loves mirth, loving wine and oil in abundance;
18 Waovu huwa fidia kwa ajili ya wenye haki, nao wasio waaminifu kwa ajili ya wanyofu.
and a transgressor is the abomination of a righteous man.
19 Ni afadhali kuishi jangwani kuliko kuishi na mke mgomvi na mkorofi.
[It is] better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and talkative and passionate woman.
20 Katika nyumba ya mwenye hekima kuna akiba ya vyakula vizuri na mafuta, lakini mtu mpumbavu hutafuna vyote alivyo navyo.
A desirable treasure will rest on the mouth of the wise; but foolish men will swallow it up.
21 Yeye afuatiaye haki na upendo hupata uzima, mafanikio na heshima.
The way of righteousness and mercy will find life and glory.
22 Mtu mwenye hekima huushambulia mji wa wenye nguvu, na kuangusha ngome wanazozitegemea.
A wise man assaults strong cities, and demolishes the fortress in which the ungodly trusted.
23 Yeye alindaye kinywa chake na ulimi wake hujilinda na maafa.
He that keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from trouble.
24 Mtu mwenye kiburi na majivuno, “Mdhihaki” ndilo jina lake; hutenda mambo kwa kiburi kilichozidi.
A bold and self-willed and insolent [man] is called a pest: and he that remembers injuries is a transgressor.
25 Kutamani sana kwa mvivu kutakuwa kifo chake, kwa sababu mikono yake haitaki kufanya kazi.
Desires kill the sluggard; for his hands do not choose to do anything.
26 Mchana kutwa hutamani zaidi, lakini mnyofu hutoa pasipo kuzuia.
An ungodly man entertains evil desires all the day: but the righteous is unsparingly merciful and compassionate.
27 Dhabihu ya mtu mwovu ni chukizo, si zaidi sana itolewapo kwa nia mbaya!
The sacrifices of the ungodly are abomination to the Lord, for they offer them wickedly.
28 Shahidi wa uongo ataangamia, bali maneno ya mwenye kusikia yatadumu.
A false witness shall perish; but an obedient man will speak cautiously.
29 Mtu mwovu ana uso wa ushupavu, bali mtu mnyofu huzifikiria njia zake.
An ungodly man impudently withstands with his face; but the upright man himself understands his ways.
30 Hakuna hekima, wala akili, wala mpango unaoweza kufaulu dhidi ya Bwana.
There is no wisdom, there is no courage, there is no counsel against the ungodly.
31 Farasi huandaliwa kwa ajili ya siku ya vita, bali ushindi huwa kwa Bwana.
A horse is prepared for the day of battle; but help is of the Lord.
