1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,
Than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Afadhali mego kavu pamoja na utulivu, Kuliko nyumba yenye karamu nyingi pamoja na magomvi.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame,
And shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
Mtumwa atendaye kwa busara atamtawala mwana atendaye mambo ya aibu; Tena atapata sehemu ya urithi kati ya ndugu.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold:
But the LORD trieth the hearts.
Kalibuni kwa fedha, na tanuru kwa dhahabu; Bali Bwana huijaribu mioyo.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips;
And a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
Mtenda mabaya husikiliza midomo ya uovu; Na mwongo hutega sikio lake kusikiliza ulimi wa madhara.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker:
And he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Amdhihakiye maskini humsuta Muumba wake; Naye aufurahiaye msiba hatakosa adhabu.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men;
And the glory of children are their fathers.
Wana wa wana ndio taji ya wazee, Na utukufu wa watoto ni baba zao.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool:
Much less do lying lips a prince.
Maneno mazuri hayapendezi kinywani mwa mpumbavu; Siuze midomo ya uongo kinywani mwa mkuu.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it:
Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Kipawa ni kama kito cha thamani machoni pake yeye aliye nacho; Kila kigeukapo hufanikiwa.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love;
But he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Afunikaye kosa hutafuta kupendwa; Bali yeye akashifuye neno hutenga rafiki.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man
Than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Lawama hupenya moyoni mwa mwenye ufahamu, Kuliko mapigo mia moyoni mwa mpumbavu.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion:
Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Mtu mwovu hataki neno ila kuasi tu; Kwa hiyo mjumbe mkali atatumwa kwake.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
Afadhali mtu akutwe na dubu aliyenyang'anywa watoto wake, Kuliko na mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good,
Evil shall not depart from his house.
Yeye arudishaye mabaya badala ya mema, Mabaya hayataondoka nyumbani mwake.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water:
Therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Mwanzo wa ugomvi ni kama kutoboa penye maji; Basi acheni ugomvi kabla haujafurika.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just,
Even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Yeye asemaye kwamba asiye haki ana haki; naye asemaye kwamba mwenye haki hana haki; Hao wote wawili ni chukizo kwa Bwana.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom,
Seeing he hath no heart to it?
Nini maana yake, mpumbavu kuwa na fedha mkononi mwake ya kununulia hekima, Ikiwa hana moyo wa ufahamu?
17 A friend loveth at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
Rafiki hupenda sikuzote; Na ndugu amezaliwa kwa siku ya taabu.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands,
And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
Aliyepungukiwa na akili hupana mkono na mtu; Na kuwa mdhamini mbele ya mwenzake.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife:
And he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
Apendaye ugomvi hupenda dhambi; Auinuaye sana mlango wake hutafuta uharibifu.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good:
And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
Mtu mwenye moyo wa ukaidi hatapata mema; Na mwenye ulimi wa upotofu huanguka katika misiba.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow:
And the father of a fool hath no joy.
Azaaye mpumbavu ni kwa huzuni yake mwenyewe; Wala baba wa mpumbavu hana furaha.
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine:
But a broken spirit drieth the bones.
Moyo uliochangamka ni dawa nzuri; Bali roho iliyopondeka huikausha mifupa.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom
To pervert the ways of judgment.
Asiye haki hutoa rushwa kifuani, Ili kuzipotosha njia za hukumu.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding;
But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Hekima huwa machoni pake mwenye ufahamu; Bali macho ya mpumbavu huwa katika ncha za dunia.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her that bare him.
Mwana mpumbavu ni huzuni kwa babaye, Na uchungu kwa mamaye aliyemzaa.
26 Also to punish the just is not good,
Nor to strike princes for equity.
Tena kumwadhibu mwenye haki si vizuri; Wala si kwema kuwapiga wakuu kwa unyofu wao.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words:
And a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Azuiaye maneno yake ni mwenye maarifa; Na mwenye roho ya utulivu ana busara.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise:
And he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Hata mpumbavu akinyamaza, huhesabiwa hekima; Akifumba midomo yake, huhesabiwa ufahamu.
