1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches,
And loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Heri kuchagua jina jema kuliko mali nyingi; Na neema kuliko fedha na dhahabu.
2 The rich and poor meet together:
The LORD is the maker of them all.
Tajiri na maskini hukutana pamoja; Bwana ndiye aliyewaumba wote wawili.
3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself:
But the simple pass on, and are punished.
Mwenye busara huyaona mabaya na kujificha; Bali wajinga huendelea mbele wakaumia.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD
Are riches, and honour, and life.
Thawabu ya unyenyekevu ambao ni kumcha Bwana Ni utajiri, na heshima, nayo ni uzima.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward:
He that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
Miiba na mitego huwa katika njia ya mshupavu; Yeye aitunzaye nafsi yake atakuwa mbali nayo.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go:
And when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Mlee mtoto katika njia impasayo, Naye hataiacha, hata atakapokuwa mzee.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.
Tajiri humtawala maskini, Naye akopaye ni mtumwa wake akopeshaye.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity:
And the rod of his anger shall fail.
Yeye apandaye uovu atavuna msiba, Na fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itakoma.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed;
For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Mwenye jicho la ukarimu atabarikiwa; Maana huwapa maskini chakula chake.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out;
Yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
Mtupe nje mwenye dharau, na ugomvi utatoka; Naam, fitina na fedheha zitakoma.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart,
For the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
Apendaye usafi wa moyo, na neema ya midomo; Mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge,
And he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
Macho ya Bwana humhifadhi mwenye maarifa; Bali huyapindua maneno ya mtu haini.
13 The slothful man saith, There is a lion without,
I shall be slain in the streets.
Mtu mvivu husema, Simba yuko nje; Nitauawa katika njia kuu.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit:
He that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
Kinywa cha malaya ni shimo refu; Anayechukiwa na Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child;
But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Ujinga umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto; Lakini fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches ,
And he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
Yeye awaoneaye maskini ili kuongeza mapato, Naye ampaye tajiri, hupata hasara.
Words of the Wise
17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise,
And apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Tega sikio lako uyasikie maneno ya wenye hekima, na kuuelekeza moyo wako kwa maarifa yangu;
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee;
They shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
maana ni vizuri kuyahifadhi ndani yako, hali yakithibitika pamoja midomoni mwako.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD,
I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
Ili matumaini yako uyaweke kwa Bwana, leo nimekujulisha wewe haya, naam, wewe.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things
In counsels and knowledge,
Je! Sikukuandikia mambo makuu juu ya mashauri na juu ya maarifa;
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth;
That thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
ili kukujulisha hakika ya maneno ya kweli, uwarudishie wakutumao maneno ya kweli?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor:
Neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Usimnyang'anye maskini, kwa kuwa ni maskini; Wala usimdhulumu mtu mnyonge langoni;
23 For the LORD will plead their cause,
And spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
Kwa sababu Bwana atawatetea; Naye atawateka uhai wao waliowateka.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man;
And with a furious man thou shalt not go:
Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira nyingi; Wala usiende na mtu wa ghadhabu nyingi;
25 Lest thou learn his ways,
And get a snare to thy soul.
Usije ukajifunza njia zake; Na kujipatia nafsi yako mtego.
26 Be not thou one of them that strike hands,
Or of them that are sureties for debts.
Usiwe mmoja wao wawekao rehani; Au walio wadhamini kwa deni za watu;
27 If thou hast nothing to pay,
Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Kama huna kitu cha kulipa; Kwani ukaondolee kitanda chako chini yako?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark,
Which thy fathers have set.
Usiiondoe alama ya mpaka wa zamani, Uliowekwa na baba zako.
29 Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings;
He shall not stand before mean men .
Je! Wamwona mtu mwenye bidii katika kazi zake? Huyo atasimama mbele ya wafalme; Hatasimama mbele ya watu wasio na cheo.
