Mithali 20
1 Divai ni dhihaka na kinywaji kikali ni mgomvi; anayepotea kwa kunywa hana busara.
Wine is an intemperate thing, and strong drink full of violence: but every fool is entangled with them.
2 Kumwogopa mfalme ni kama kumwogopa simba kijana aungurumaye, yeyote anayemkasirisha hutoa fidia ya maish yake.
The threat of a king differs not from the rage of a lion; and he that provokes him sins against his own soul.
3 Ni heshima kwa mtu yeyote kujiepusha na mafarakano, bali kila mpumbavu hurukia kwenye mabishano.
[It is] a glory to a man to turn aside from railing; but every fool is entangled with such matters.
4 Mtu mvivu halimi majira ya kipupwe; hutafuta mazao wakati wa mavuno lakini hapati kitu.
A sluggard when reproached is not ashamed: so also he who borrows corn in harvest.
5 Makusudi ndani ya moyo wa mtu ni kama maji yenye kina, bali mtu mwenye ufahamu huyateka.
Counsel in a man's heart is deep water; but a prudent man will draw it out.
6 Mara nyingi mtu husema yeye ni mwaminifu, lakini ni nani awezaye kumpata yule mwaminifu?
A man is valuable, and a merciful man precious: but [it is] hard to find a faithful man.
7 Mtu atendaye haki hutembea katika uaminifu wake na wana wake wanaofuata baada yake wanafuraha.
He that walks blameless in justice, shall leave his children blessed.
8 Mfalme anayeketi kwenye kiti cha hukumu akifanya kazi za kuhukumu hupembua kwa macho yake mabaya yote yaliyoko mbele yake.
Whenever a righteous king sits on the throne, no evil thing can stand before his presence.
9 Nani anayeweza kusema, “Nimeuweka safi moyo wangu; nipo huru na dhambi zangu”?
Who will boast that he has a pure heart? or who will boldly say that he is pure from sins?
10 Mizani tofauti na vipimo visivyosawa - Yehova huvichukia vyote.
A large and small weight, and various measures, are even both of them unclean before the Lord; and [so is] he that makes them.
11 Hata kijana hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kwa mwenendo wake kama ni safi na uadilifu.
A youth [when in company] with a godly man, will be restrained in his devices, and [then] his way will be straight.
12 Masikio yanayosikia na macho yanayoona- Yehova aliyafanya yote.
The ear hears, and the eye sees: even both of them are the Lord's work.
13 Usipende usingizi au utakuwa masikini; fumbua macho yako na utakuwa na vyakula tele.
Love not to speak ill, lest you be cut off: open your eyes, and be filled with bread.
14 “Mbaya! Mbaya!” anasema mnunuzi, lakini akiondoka anajisifu.
15 Ipo dhahabu na mawe ya thamani, lakini midomo yenye maarifa ni kito cha thamani.
16 Chukua vazi kama mmiliki wake ataweka fedha kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni, na lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa uzinifu.
17 Mkate uliopatikana kwa ulaghai unaladha tamu, lakini baadaye kinywa chake kitajaa kokoto.
18 Mipango huimarishwa kwa ushauri na kwa mwongozo wa busara utapigana vita.
19 Mmbea hufunua siri na kwa hiyo hupaswi kushirikiana na watu ambao huongea sana.
20 Kama mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itapulizwa katikati ya giza.
The lamp of him that reviles father or mother shall be put out, and his eyeballs shall see darkness.
21 Urithi uliopatikana mwanzoni kwa haraka utakuwa na mema kidogo mwishoni.
A portion hastily gotten at first shall not be blessed in the end.
22 Usiseme “Mimi nitakulipiza kwa kosa hili” Msubiri Yehova na yeye atakuokoa.
Say not, I will avenge myself on my enemy; but wait on the Lord, that he may help you.
23 Yehova huchukia mizani isiyo sawa na vipimo vya udanganyifu si vizuri.
A double weight is an abomination to the Lord; and a deceitful balance is not good in his sight.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Yehova; namna gani basi ataifahamu njia yake?
A man's goings are directed of the Lord: how then can a mortal understand his ways?
25 Ni mtego kwa mtu kusema kwa pupa, “Kitu hiki ni kitakatifu” na kuanza kufikiri juu yake kwamba kina maana gani baada ya kufanya kiapo.
It is a snare to a man hastily to consecrate some of his own property: for [in that case] repentance comes after vowing.
26 Mfalme mwenye busara huwapepeta waovu na huligeuza juu yao gurudumu la kupuria.
A wise king utterly crushes the ungodly, and will bring a wheel upon them.
27 Roho ya mtu ni taa ya Yehova, hutafiti sehemu zake zote za ndani kabisa.
The spirit of man is a light of the Lord, who searches the inmost parts of the belly.
28 Agano la uaminifu na udhamini humhifadhi mfalme; kiti chake cha enzi hufanywa thabiti kwa upendo.
Mercy and truth are a guard to a king, and will surround his throne with righteousness.
29 Utukufu wa watu vijana ni nguvu zao na fahari ya watu wazee ni mvi zao.
Wisdom is an ornament to young men; and grey [hairs] are the glory of old men.
30 Mapigo yanayoleta kidonda huusafisha ubaya na vichapo hufanya sehemu za ndani kabisa kuwa safi.
Bruises and contusions befall bad men; and plagues [shall come] in the inward parts of [their] belly.
