1 The preparations of the heart in man,
And the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
Maandalio ya moyo ni ya mwanadamu; Bali jawabu la ulimi hutoka kwa Bwana.
2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes;
But the LORD weigheth the spirits.
Njia zote za mtu ni safi machoni pake mwenyewe; Bali Bwana huzipima roho za watu.
3 Commit thy works unto the LORD,
And thy thoughts shall be established.
Mkabidhi Bwana kazi zako, Na mawazo yako yatathibitika.
4 The LORD hath made all things for himself:
Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
Bwana amefanya kila kitu kwa kusudi lake; Naam, hata wabaya kwa siku ya ubaya.
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD:
Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Kila mwenye moyo wa kiburi ni chukizo kwa Bwana; Hakika, hatakosa adhabu.
6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:
And by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
Kwa rehema na kweli uovu husafishwa; Kwa kumcha Bwana watu hujiepusha na maovu.
7 When a man's ways please the LORD,
He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Njia za mtu zikimpendeza Bwana, Hata adui zake huwapatanisha naye.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great revenues without right.
Afadhali mali kidogo pamoja na haki, Kuliko mapato mengi pamoja na udhalimu.
9 A man's heart deviseth his way:
But the LORD directeth his steps.
Moyo wa mtu huifikiri njia yake; Bali Bwana huziongoza hatua zake.
10 A divine sentence is in the lips of the king:
His mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
Kukata maneno huwa katika midomo ya mfalme; Kinywa chake hakitakosa katika hukumu.
11 A just weight and balance are the LORD's:
All the weights of the bag are his work.
Mizani ya haki na vitanga vyake ni vya Bwana; Mawe yote ya mfukoni ni kazi yake.
12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness:
For the throne is established by righteousness.
Wafalme wakitenda yasiyo haki ni chukizo; Maana kiti cha enzi huthibitika kwa haki.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings;
And they love him that speaketh right.
Midomo ya haki ni furaha ya wafalme; Nao humpenda yeye asemaye yaliyo sawa.
14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death:
But a wise man will pacify it.
Hasira ya mfalme ni kama wajumbe wa mauti; Lakini mtu mwenye hekima ataituliza.
15 In the light of the king's countenance is life;
And his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
Kuna uhai katika nuru ya uso wa mfalme, Na fadhili zake ni kama wingu la masika.
16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
Si afadhali kupata hekima kuliko dhahabu? Naam, yafaa kuchagua ufahamu kuliko fedha.
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil:
He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
Njia kuu ya mwenye haki ni kujitenga na uovu; Yeye ashikaye njia yake huihifadhi nafsi yake.
18 Pride goeth before destruction,
And an haughty spirit before a fall.
Kiburi hutangulia uangamivu; Na roho yenye kutakabari hutangulia maanguko.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Afadhali kuwa na roho ya unyenyekevu pamoja na maskini, Kuliko kugawanya nyara pamoja na wenye kiburi.
20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good:
And whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
Atakayelitafakari neno atapata mema; Na kila amwaminiye Bwana ana heri.
21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent:
And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
Aliye na hekima moyoni ataitwa mwenye busara; Utamu wa maneno huongeza elimu.
22 Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it:
But the instruction of fools is folly.
Ufahamu ni chemchemi ya uzima kwake aliye nao; Bali kufundishwa kwa wapumbavu ni upuzi wao.
23 The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth,
And addeth learning to his lips.
Moyo wake mwenye hekima hufundisha kinywa chake; Huzidisha elimu ya midomo yake.
24 Pleasant words are as an honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
Maneno yapendezayo ni kama sega la asali; Ni tamu nafsini, na afya mifupani.
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man,
But the end thereof are the ways of death.
Iko njia ionekanayo kuwa sawa machoni pa mtu; Lakini mwisho wake ni njia za mauti.
26 He that laboureth laboureth for himself;
For his mouth craveth it of him.
Nafsi yake mfanya kazi hujifanyia kazi; Maana kinywa chake humtia bidii.
27 An ungodly man diggeth up evil:
And in his lips there is as a burning fire.
Mtu asiyefaa kitu huchimba shimo la madhara; Katika midomo yake mna moto uteketezao.
28 A froward man soweth strife:
And a whisperer separateth chief friends.
Mtu mshupavu huondokesha fitina; Na mchongezi huwafarakanisha rafiki.
29 A violent man enticeth his neighbour,
And leadeth him into the way that is not good.
Mtu mkali humshawishi mwenzake; Humwongoza katika njia isiyo njema.
30 He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things:
Moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
Afumbaye macho, kusudi lake ni kuwaza yaliyopotoka; Aikazaye midomo yake hutokeza mabaya.
31 The hoary head is a crown of glory,
If it be found in the way of righteousness.
Kichwa chenye mvi ni taji ya utukufu, Kama kikionekana katika njia ya haki.
32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty;
And he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
Asiye mwepesi wa hasira ni mwema kuliko shujaa; Na mtu aitawalaye roho yake kuliko mtu atekaye mji.
33 The lot is cast into the lap;
But the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
Kura hutupwa katika mikunjo ya nguo; Lakini hukumu zake zote ni za Bwana.
