1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge:
But he that hateth reproof is brutish.
Kila apendaye mafundisho hupenda maarifa; Bali yeye achukiaye kulaumiwa ni kama mnyama.
2 A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD:
But a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
Mtu mwema atapata upendeleo kwa Bwana; Bali mtu wa hila atahukumiwa naye.
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness:
But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
Mtu hatathibitika kwa njia ya uovu; Shina la mwenye haki halitaondolewa kamwe.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband:
But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
Mwanamke mwema ni taji ya mumewe; Bali aaibishaye ni kama kuoza mifupani mwake.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right:
But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
Mawazo ya mwenye haki ni adili; Bali mashauri ya mtu mwovu ni hadaa.
6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood:
But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
Maneno ya waovu huotea damu; Bali kinywa cha wanyofu kitawaokoa.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not:
But the house of the righteous shall stand.
Waovu huangamia, hata hawako tena; Bali nyumba ya mwenye haki itasimama.
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom:
But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
Mtu atasifiwa kwa kadiri ya akili zake; Bali mwenye moyo wa ukaidi atadharauliwa.
9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better
Than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
Afadhali mtu anayedharauliwa, ikiwa ana mtumwa, Kuliko ajisifuye, ikiwa anahitaji chakula.
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast:
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Mwenye haki huufikiri uhai wa mnyama wake; Bali huruma za mtu mwovu ni ukatili.
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread:
But he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
Alimaye shamba lake atakuwa na chakula tele; Bali afuataye mambo ya upuzi hana ufahamu.
12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men:
But the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit .
Asiye haki hutamani nyavu za wabaya; Bali shina lao wenye haki huleta matunda.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips:
But the just shall come out of trouble.
Katika kosa la midomo kuna mtego kwa mbaya; Bali mwenye haki atatoka katika taabu.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth:
And the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
Mtu atashiba mema kwa matunda ya kinywa chake; Na atarudishiwa matendo ya mikono yake.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes:
But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Njia ya mpumbavu imenyoka machoni pake mwenyewe; Bali yeye aliye na hekima husikiliza shauri.
16 A fool's wrath is presently known:
But a prudent man covereth shame.
Ghadhabu ya mpumbavu hujulika mara; Bali mtu mwerevu husitiri aibu.
17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness:
But a false witness deceit.
Atamkaye maneno ya kweli hufunua haki; Bali shahidi wa uongo hutamka hila.
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword:
But the tongue of the wise is health.
Kuna anenaye bila kufikiri, kama kuchoma kwa upanga; Bali ulimi wa mwenye haki ni afya.
19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever:
But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Mdomo wa kweli utathibitishwa milele; Bali ulimi wa uongo ni wa kitambo tu.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil:
But to the counsellors of peace is joy.
Hila imo mioyoni mwao wafikirio uovu; Bali wafanyao mashauri ya amani, kwao kuna furaha.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just:
But the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
Mwenye haki hatapatikana na msiba wo wote; Bali wasio haki watajazwa mabaya.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD:
But they that deal truly are his delight.
Midomo ya uongo ni chukizo kwa Bwana; Bali watendao uaminifu ndio furaha yake.
23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge:
But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Mwanadamu mwenye busara husitiri maarifa; Bali moyo wa wapumbavu hutangaza upumbavu.
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule:
But the slothful shall be under tribute.
Mkono wa mwenye bidii utatawala; Bali mvivu atalipishwa kodi.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop:
But a good word maketh it glad.
Uzito katika moyo wa mtu huuinamisha; Bali neno jema huufurahisha.
26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour:
But the way of the wicked seduceth them.
Mwenye haki ni kiongozi cha mwenzake; Bali njia ya wasio haki huwakosesha.
27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting:
But the substance of a diligent man is precious.
Mtu mvivu hapiki mawindo yake; Bali mwenye bidii anazo mali za thamani.
28 In the way of righteousness is life;
And in the pathway thereof there is no death.
Katika njia ya haki kuna uhai; Wala hakuna mauti katika mapito yake.
