1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging:
And whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
Mvinyo hudhihaki, kileo huleta ugomvi; Na akosaye kwa vitu hivyo hana hekima.
2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion:
Whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
Utisho wa mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba; Amkasirishaye huitendea dhambi nafsi yake.
3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife:
But every fool will be meddling.
Mtu kujitenga na ugomvi ni heshima kwake; Bali kila mpumbavu ataka kugombana.
4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold;
Therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Mtu mvivu hataki kulima wakati wa baridi; Hivyo wakati wa mavuno ataomba, hana kitu.
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;
But a man of understanding will draw it out.
Mashauri ya moyoni ni kama kilindi; Lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu atayateka.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness:
But a faithful man who can find?
Wanadamu hutangaza kila mtu hisani yake mwenyewe; Bali mtu aliye mwaminifu, ni nani awezaye kumpata?
7 The just man walketh in his integrity:
His children are blessed after him.
Mwenye haki aendaye katika unyofu wake, Watoto wake wabarikiwa baada yake.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment
Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
Mfalme aketiye katika kiti cha hukumu, Huyapepeta mabaya yote kwa macho yake.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin?
Nani awezaye kusema, Nimesafisha moyo wangu; Nimetakasika dhambi yangu?
10 Divers weights, and divers measures,
Both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
Vipimo mbalimbali, na pishi mbalimbali, Vyote viwili ni chukizo kwa Bwana.
11 Even a child is known by his doings,
Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
Hata mtoto hujijulisha kwa matendo yake; Kwamba kazi yake ni safi, kwamba ni adili.
12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,
The LORD hath made even both of them.
Sikio lisikialo, na jicho lionalo, Bwana ndiye aliyeyafanya yote mawili.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;
Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
Usipende usingizi usije ukawa maskini; Fumbua macho yako nawe utashiba chakula.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer:
But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
Haifai kitu, haifai kitu, asema mnunuzi; Lakini akiisha kwenda zake hujisifu.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies:
But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
Dhahabu iko, na marijani tele; Lakini midomo ya maarifa ni kito cha thamani.
16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger:
And take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
Twaa nguo yake amdhaminiye mgeni; Mtoze rehani aliye mdhamini wa wageni.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man;
But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
Chakula cha uongo ni kitamu kwa mtu; Lakini halafu kinywa chake kitajaa changarawe.
18 Every purpose is established by counsel:
And with good advice make war.
Kila kusudi huthibitika kwa kushauriana; Na kwa shauri la akili fanya vita.
19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets:
Therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
Mwenye kitango akisingizia hufunua siri; Basi, usishirikiane naye afunuaye midomo yake sana.
20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother,
His lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
Amlaaniye babaye au mamaye, Taa yake itazimika katika giza kuu.
21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;
But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Urithi uliopatikana mwanzo kwa haraka, Mwisho wake, lakini, hautabarikiwa.
22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil;
But wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
Usiseme, Mimi nitalipa mabaya; Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD;
And a false balance is not good.
Vipimo mbalimbali ni chukizo kwa Bwana; Tena mizani ya hila si njema.
24 Man's goings are of the LORD;
How can a man then understand his own way?
Mwenendo wa mtu watoka kwa Bwana; Basi, awezaje mtu kuelewa na njia yake?
25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy,
And after vows to make enquiry.
Ni mtego, mtu aseme kwa haraka, Kitu hiki ni wakfu; Na baada ya kuweka nadhiri kuuliza-uliza habari.
26 A wise king scattereth the wicked,
And bringeth the wheel over them.
Mfalme mwenye hekima huwapepeta wasio haki; Naye hulipitisha gurudumo la kupuria juu yao.
27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD,
Searching all the inward parts of the belly.
Pumzi ya mwanadamu ni taa ya Bwana; Hupeleleza yote yaliyomo ndani yake.
28 Mercy and truth preserve the king:
And his throne is upholden by mercy.
Fadhili na uaminifu humhifadhi mfalme, Na kiti chake cha enzi huthibitishwa kwa fadhili.
29 The glory of young men is their strength:
And the beauty of old men is the grey head.
Fahari ya vijana ni nguvu zao, Na uzuri wa wazee ni kichwa chenye mvi.
30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil:
So do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
Machubuko ya fimbo husafisha uovu, Na mapigo hufikilia ndani ya mtima.
