Mithali 20
1 Divai ni dhihaka na kinywaji kikali ni mgomvi; anayepotea kwa kunywa hana busara.
Wine [is] a scorner — strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.
2 Kumwogopa mfalme ni kama kumwogopa simba kijana aungurumaye, yeyote anayemkasirisha hutoa fidia ya maish yake.
The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.
3 Ni heshima kwa mtu yeyote kujiepusha na mafarakano, bali kila mpumbavu hurukia kwenye mabishano.
An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.
4 Mtu mvivu halimi majira ya kipupwe; hutafuta mazao wakati wa mavuno lakini hapati kitu.
Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.
5 Makusudi ndani ya moyo wa mtu ni kama maji yenye kina, bali mtu mwenye ufahamu huyateka.
Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.
6 Mara nyingi mtu husema yeye ni mwaminifu, lakini ni nani awezaye kumpata yule mwaminifu?
A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?
7 Mtu atendaye haki hutembea katika uaminifu wake na wana wake wanaofuata baada yake wanafuraha.
The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!
8 Mfalme anayeketi kwenye kiti cha hukumu akifanya kazi za kuhukumu hupembua kwa macho yake mabaya yote yaliyoko mbele yake.
A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,
9 Nani anayeweza kusema, “Nimeuweka safi moyo wangu; nipo huru na dhambi zangu”?
Who saith, 'I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'
10 Mizani tofauti na vipimo visivyosawa - Yehova huvichukia vyote.
A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
11 Hata kijana hujulikana kwa matendo yake, kwa mwenendo wake kama ni safi na uadilifu.
Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.
12 Masikio yanayosikia na macho yanayoona- Yehova aliyafanya yote.
A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
13 Usipende usingizi au utakuwa masikini; fumbua macho yako na utakuwa na vyakula tele.
Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes — be satisfied [with] bread.
14 “Mbaya! Mbaya!” anasema mnunuzi, lakini akiondoka anajisifu.
'Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.
15 Ipo dhahabu na mawe ya thamani, lakini midomo yenye maarifa ni kito cha thamani.
Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.
16 Chukua vazi kama mmiliki wake ataweka fedha kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni, na lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa uzinifu.
Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.
17 Mkate uliopatikana kwa ulaghai unaladha tamu, lakini baadaye kinywa chake kitajaa kokoto.
Sweet to a man [is] the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled [with] gravel.
18 Mipango huimarishwa kwa ushauri na kwa mwongozo wa busara utapigana vita.
Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.
19 Mmbea hufunua siri na kwa hiyo hupaswi kushirikiana na watu ambao huongea sana.
A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver [with] his lips make not thyself surety.
20 Kama mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake, taa yake itapulizwa katikati ya giza.
Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.
21 Urithi uliopatikana mwanzoni kwa haraka utakuwa na mema kidogo mwishoni.
An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.
22 Usiseme “Mimi nitakulipiza kwa kosa hili” Msubiri Yehova na yeye atakuokoa.
Do not say, 'I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.
23 Yehova huchukia mizani isiyo sawa na vipimo vya udanganyifu si vizuri.
An abomination to Jehovah [are] a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit [are] not good.
24 Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Yehova; namna gani basi ataifahamu njia yake?
From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, And man — how understandeth he his way?
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.
A snare to a man [is] he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.
26 Mfalme mwenye busara huwapepeta waovu na huligeuza juu yao gurudumu la kupuria.
A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.
27 Roho ya mtu ni taa ya Yehova, hutafiti sehemu zake zote za ndani kabisa.
The breath of man [is] a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.
28 Agano la uaminifu na udhamini humhifadhi mfalme; kiti chake cha enzi hufanywa thabiti kwa upendo.
Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.
29 Utukufu wa watu vijana ni nguvu zao na fahari ya watu wazee ni mvi zao.
The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.
30 Mapigo yanayoleta kidonda huusafisha ubaya na vichapo hufanya sehemu za ndani kabisa kuwa safi.
The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!
