Mithali 28
1 Waovu hukimbia wakati hakuna mtu anayewafukuza, bali wale watendao haki ni thabiti kama simba kijana.
The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer. And the righteous as a young lion is confident.
2 Kwa sababu ya uhalifu wa nchi, kuna wakuu wengi, bali kwa mtu mwenye ufahamu na maarifa, itadumu kwa muda mrefu.
By the transgression of a land many [are] its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right — it is prolonged.
3 Mtu masikini mwenye kukandamiza watu wengine masikini ni kama mvua inayopiga ambayo haisazi chakula.
A man — poor and oppressing the weak, [Is] a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.
4 Wale wanaokataa sheria huwatukuza watu waovu, bali wale wenye kuitunza sheria hupigana dhidi yao.
Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.
5 Watu wabaya hawafahamu haki, bali wale wanaomtafuta Yehova wanafahamu kila kitu.
Evil men understand not judgment, And those seeking Jehovah understand all.
6 Ni bora mtu masikini ambaye anatembea katika uadilifu, kuliko mtu tajiri ambaye ni mdanganyifu katika njia zake.
Better [is] the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.
7 Yeye anayetunza sheria ni mwana mwenye ufahamu, bali mwenye ushirika na walafi humwaibisha baba yake.
Whoso is keeping the law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons, Doth cause his father to blush.
8 Anayepata mafanikio kwa kutoza riba kubwa anakusanya utajiri wake kwa ajili ya mwingine ambaye atakuwa na huruma kwa watu masikini.
Whoso is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, For one favouring the poor doth gather it.
9 Kama mtu atageuzia mbali sikio lake kusikia sheria, hata maombi yake ni chukizo.
Whoso is turning his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer [is] an abomination.
10 Yeye anayempotosha mwenye uadilifu katika njia ya uovu ataangukia kwenye shimo lake mwenyewe, bali wakamilifu watapata urithi mwema.
Whoso is causing the upright to err in an evil way, Into his own pit he doth fall, And the perfect do inherit good.
11 Mtu tajiri anaweza kuwa mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe, bali mtu masikini mwenye ufahamu atamtafuta.
A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searcheth him.
12 Kunapokuwa na ushindi kwa wenye kutenda haki, kunafuraha kuu, bali wanapoinuka waovu, watu hujificha wenyewe.
In the exulting of the righteous the glory [is] abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.
13 Yeye afichaye dhambi zake hatafanikiwa, bali mwenye kutubu na kuziacha ataonyeshwa rehema.
Whoso is covering his transgressions prospereth not, And he who is confessing and forsaking hath mercy.
14 Anafuraha ambaye huishi kwa unyenyekevu, bali anayeufanya moyo wake ataanguka katika taabu.
O the happiness of a man fearing continually, And whoso is hardening his heart falleth into evil.
15 Kama simba anayeunguruma au dubu anayeshabulia ni kama mtawala mwovu juu ya watu masikini.
A growling lion, and a ranging bear, [Is] the wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 Mtawala anayekosa ufahamu ni mkandamizaji katili, bali mwenye kuchukia aibu atadumu katika siku zake.
A leader lacking understanding multiplieth oppressions, Whoso is hating dishonest gain prolongeth days.
17 Kama mtu anahatia kwa sababu amemwaga damu ya mtu, atakuwa mkimbizi hadi kifo na hakuna atakayemsaidia.
A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Unto the pit fleeth, none taketh hold on him.
18 Mwenye kuenenda kwa ukaminifu atakuwa salama, bali mwenye njia ya udanganyifu ataanguka ghafla.
Whoso is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falleth at once.
19 Anayefanya kazi kwenye shamba lake atapata chakula kingi, bali afuataye shughuli za upuuzi atapata umasikini mkubwa.
Whoso is tilling his ground is satisfied [with] bread, And whoso is pursuing vanity, Is filled [with] poverty.
20 Mtu mwaminifu atapata baraka nyingi bali apataye utajiri wa haraka hawezi kukosa adhabu.
A stedfast man hath multiplied blessings, And whoso is hasting to be rich is not acquitted.
21 Siyo vema kuonyesha upendeleo, lakini kwa kipande cha mkate mtu atafanya ubaya.
To discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.
22 Mtu mchoyo huharakisha kwenye utajiri, lakini hajui ni umasikini gani utakuja juu yake.
Troubled for wealth [is] the man [with] an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.
23 Anayemkaripia mtu baadaye atapata fadhila zaidi kutoka kwake kuliko mwenye kumsifia sana kwa ulimi wake.
Whoso is reproving a man afterwards findeth grace, More than a flatterer with the tongue.
24 Yule anayemwibia baba yake na mama yake na kusema, “Hiyo siyo dhambi,” ni mshirika wa mwenye kuharibu.
Whoso is robbing his father, or his mother, And is saying, 'It is not transgression,' A companion he is to a destroyer.
25 Mtu mwenye tamaa huchochea mafarakano, bali anayemtumaini Yehova atafanikiwa.
Whoso is proud in soul stirreth up contention, And whoso is trusting on Jehovah is made fat.
26 Yule anayeutumaini moyo wake mwenyewe ni mpumbavu, bali anayekwenda kwa hekima atajilinda mbali na hatari.
Whoso is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoso is walking in wisdom is delivered.
27 Mwenye kuwapa masikini hatapungukiwa kitu, bali anayewafumbia macho atapokea laana nyingi.
Whoso is giving to the poor hath no lack, And whoso is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.
28 Watu waovu wanapoinuka, watu hujificha wenyewe, lakini watu waovu wataangamia, wale watendao haki wataongezeka.
In the rising of the wicked a man is hidden, And in their destruction the righteous multiply!
