Proverbs 22
1 A good name is to be chosen aboue great riches, and louing fauour is aboue siluer and aboue golde.
Heri kuchagua jina jema kuliko utajiri mwingi, kuheshimiwa ni bora kuliko fedha au dhahabu.
2 The rich and poore meete together: the Lord is the maker of them all.
Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
3 A prudent man seeth the plague, and hideth himselfe: but the foolish goe on still, and are punished.
Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele kama kipofu nayo ikamtesa.
4 The rewarde of humilitie, and the feare of God is riches, and glory, and life.
Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
5 Thornes and snares are in the way of the frowarde: but he that regardeth his soule, will depart farre from them.
Katika mapito ya waovu kuna miiba na mitego, bali yeye ailindaye nafsi yake hukaa mbali nayo.
6 Teache a childe in the trade of his way, and when he is olde, he shall not depart from it.
Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea, naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
7 The rich ruleth the poore, and the borower is seruant to the man that lendeth.
Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
8 He that soweth iniquitie, shall reape affliction, and the rodde of his anger shall faile.
Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu, nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
9 He that hath a good eye, he shalbe blessed: for he giueth of his bread vnto the poore.
Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
10 Cast out the scorner, and strife shall go out: so contention and reproche shall cease.
Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka, na mvutano utatoweka; ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
11 Hee that loueth purenesse of heart for the grace of his lippes, the King shalbe his friend.
Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
12 The eyes of the Lord preserue knowledge: but hee ouerthroweth the wordes of the transgressour.
Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
13 The slouthfull man saith, A lyon is without, I shall be slaine in the streete.
Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
14 The mouth of strage women is as a deepe pit: he with whom the Lord is angry, shall fall therein.
Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu; yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
15 Foolishnesse is bounde in the heart of a childe: but the rodde of correction shall driue it away from him.
Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
16 Hee that oppresseth the poore to increase him selfe, and giueth vnto the riche, shall surely come to pouertie.
Yeye amwoneaye maskini ili kujiongezea mali, naye ampaye tajiri zawadi, wote huwa maskini.
17 Incline thine eare, and heare the wordes of the wise, and apply thine heart vnto my knowledge.
Tega sikio na usikie misemo ya wenye hekima, elekeza moyo wako kwenye yale nifundishayo,
18 For it shalbe pleasant, if thou keepe them in thy bellie, and if they be directed together in thy lippes.
kwa maana inapendeza unapoyahifadhi moyoni mwako na kuwa nayo yote tayari midomoni mwako.
19 That thy confidence may be in the Lord, I haue shewed thee this day: thou therefore take heede.
Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
20 Haue not I written vnto thee three times in counsels and knowledge,
Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini, misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
21 That I might shewe thee the assurance of the wordes of trueth to answere the wordes of trueth to them that sende to thee?
kukufundisha maneno ya kweli na ya kuaminika, ili uweze kutoa majibu sahihi kwake yeye aliyekutuma?
22 Robbe not the poore, because hee is poore, neither oppresse the afflicted in iudgement.
Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini, wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
23 For the Lord will defende their cause, and spoyle the soule of those that spoyle them.
kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
24 Make no friendship with an angrie man, neither goe with the furious man,
Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
25 Least thou learne his wayes, and receiue destruction to thy soule.
la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
26 Be not thou of them that touch the hand, nor among them that are suretie for debts.
Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
27 If thou hast nothing to paye, why causest thou that he should take thy bed from vnder thee?
Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
28 Thou shalt not remooue the ancient bounds which thy fathers haue made.
Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani lililowekwa na baba zako.
29 Thou seest that a diligent man in his businesse standeth before Kings, and standeth not before the base sort.
Je, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake? Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme; hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
