Proverbs 22
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 utajiri mwingi, kuheshimiwa ni bora kuliko fedha au dhahabu.
2 The rich and the poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili: Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
3 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele kama kipofu nayo ikamtesa.
4 The reward of humility [and] the fear of the LORD [is] riches, and honour, and life.
Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
5 Thorns [and] snares are in the way of the froward: he that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
Katika mapito ya waovu kuna miiba na mitego, bali yeye ailindaye nafsi yake hukaa mbali nayo.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea, naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
7 The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
Matajiri huwatawala maskini naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap calamity: and the rod of his wrath shall fail.
Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu, nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and ignominy shall cease.
Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka, na mvutano utatoweka; ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema, mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve [him that hath] knowledge, but he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa, bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be murdered in the streets.
Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!” au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu; yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana atatumbukia ndani yake.
15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto, bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his [gain, and] he that giveth to the rich, [cometh] only to want.
Yeye amwoneaye maskini ili kujiongezea mali, naye ampaye tajiri zawadi, wote huwa maskini.
17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
Tega sikio na usikie misemo ya wenye hekima, elekeza moyo wako kwenye yale nifundishayo,
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, if they be established together upon thy lips.
kwa maana inapendeza unapoyahifadhi moyoni mwako na kuwa nayo yote tayari midomoni mwako.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made [them] known to thee this day, even to thee.
Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana, hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
20 Have not I written unto thee excellent things of counsels and knowledge;
Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini, misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
21 To make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?
kukufundisha maneno ya kweli na ya kuaminika, ili uweze kutoa majibu sahihi kwake yeye aliyekutuma?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor, neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini, wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and despoil of life those that despoil them.
kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka, usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
la sivyo utajifunza njia zake na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
26 Be thou not one of them that strike hands, [or] of them that are sureties for debts:
Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani, au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa, kitanda chako kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani lililowekwa 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, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake? Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme; hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
