Proverbs 20
1 Wine is a luxurious thing, and drunkenness riotous: whosoever is delighted therewith shell not be wise.
Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi; yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
2 As the roaring of a lion, so also is the dread of a king: he that provoketh him, sinneth against his own soul.
Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
3 It is an honour for a man to separate himself from quarrels: but all fools are meddling with reproaches.
Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi, bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
4 Because of the cold the sluggard would not plough: he shall beg therefore in the summer, and it shall not be given him.
Mvivu halimi kwa majira; kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama lakini hapati chochote.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water: but a wise man will draw it out.
Makusudi ya moyo wa mwanadamu ni maji yenye kina, lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu huyachota.
6 Many men are called merciful: but who shall find a faithful man?
Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma, bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
7 The just that walketh in his simplicity, shall leave behind him blessed children.
Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama, wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
8 The king, that sitteth on the throne of judgment, scattereth away all evil with his look.
Wakati mfalme aketipo katika kiti chake cha enzi kuhukumu, hupepeta ubaya wote kwa macho yake.
9 Who can say: My heart is clean, I am pure from sin?
Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi; mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures, both are abominable before God.
Mawe ya kupimia yaliyo tofauti na vipimo tofauti, Bwana huchukia vyote viwili.
11 By his inclinations a child is known, if his works be clean and right.
Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the Lord hath made them both.
Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo, Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
13 Love not sleep, lest poverty oppress thee: open thy eyes, and be filled with bread.
Usiupende usingizi la sivyo utakuwa maskini, uwe macho nawe utakuwa na chakula cha akiba.
14 It is nought, it is nought, saith every buyer: and when he is gone away, then he will boast.
“Haifai, haifai!” asema mnunuzi, kisha huondoka akijisifia ununuzi wake.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of jewels: but the lips of knowledge are a precious vessel.
Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi, lakini midomo inenayo maarifa ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
16 Take away the garment of him that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from him for strangers.
Chukua vazi la yule awekaye dhamana kwa ajili ya mgeni; lishikilie iwe dhamana kama anafanya hivyo kwa ajili ya mwanamke mpotovu.
17 The bread of lying is sweet to a man: but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu, bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
18 Designs are strengthened by counsels: and wars are to be managed by governments.
Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri, ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
19 Meddle not with him that revealeth secrets, and walketh deceitfully, and openeth wide his lips.
Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika, kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
20 He that curseth his father, and mother, his lamp shall be put out in the midst of darkness.
Ikiwa mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itazimwa katika giza nene.
21 The inheritance gotten hastily in the beginning, in the end shall be without a blessing.
Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni, hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
22 Say not: I will return evil: wait for the Lord and he will deliver thee.
Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!” Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
23 Diverse weights are an abomination before the Lord: a deceitful balance is not good.
Bwana anachukia sana mawe ya kupimia ya udanganyifu, nazo mizani zisizo halali hazimpendezi.
24 The steps of man are guided by the Lord: but who is the man that can understand his own way?
Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana. Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
25 It is ruin to a man to devour holy ones, and after vows to retract.
Ni mtego kwa mtu kuweka wakfu kitu kwa haraka na baada ya kitambo kidogo kufikiria tena nadhiri zake.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth over them the wheel.
Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu, hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
27 The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, which searcheth all the hidden things of the bowels.
Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu, huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is strengthened by clemency.
Upendo na uaminifu humweka mfalme salama, kwa njia ya upendo, kiti chake cha enzi huwa salama.
29 The joy of young men is their strength: and the dignity of old men, their grey hairs.
Utukufu wa vijana ni nguvu zao, mvi ni fahari ya uzee.
30 The blueness of a wound shall wipe away evils: and stripes in the more inward parts of the belly.
Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya, nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
