Proverbs 17

1 Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

1 Afadhali kula ukoko mkavu ukiwa na amani na utulivu kuliko kukaa kwenye nyumba ya karamu kukiwa na magomvi.

2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.

2 Mtumishi mwenye hekima atatawala juu ya mwana aaibishaye, naye atashirikiana katika urithi kama mmoja wa hao ndugu.

3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.

3 Kalibu ni kwa ajili ya fedha na tanuru ni kwa ajili ya dhahabu, bali Bwana huujaribu moyo.

4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

4 Mtu mwovu husikiliza midomo mibaya; mwongo husikiliza kwa makini ulimi wa madhara.

5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.

5 Yeye anaye mdhihaki maskini huonyesha dharau kwa Muumba wake; yeyote afurahiaye maafa hataepuka kuadhibiwa.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.

6 Wana wa wana ni taji la wazee, nao wazazi ni fahari ya watoto wao.

7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!

7 Midomo yenye uwezo wa ushawishi haimfai mpumbavu: je, ni mibaya kiasi gani zaidi midomo ya uongo kwa mtawala!

8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

8 Kipawa ni kama kito cha thamani machoni pake yeye aliye nacho; kokote kigeukiapo, hufanikiwa.

9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.

9 Yeye anayesamehe kosa hudumisha upendo, bali yeyote arudiaye jambo hutenganisha marafiki wa karibu.

10 A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

10 Karipio humwingia sana mtu mwenye kutambua kuliko mapigo mia kwa mpumbavu.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

11 Mtu mbaya hupenda kuasi tu; mjumbe asiye na huruma atatumwa dhidi yake.

12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

12 Ni afadhali ukutane na dubu aliyenyangʼanywa watoto wake, kuliko mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.

13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

13 Ikiwa mtu atalipa baya kwa jema, kamwe ubaya hautaondoka katika nyumba yake.

14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

14 Kuanzisha ugomvi ni kama kutoboa bwawa la maji; kwa hiyo acha jambo hilo kabla mabishano hayajaanza.

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

15 Yeye asemaye kuwa asiye na haki ana haki, naye asemaye kuwa mwenye haki hana haki: Bwana huwachukia sana wote wawili.

16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

16 Fedha ina faida gani mikononi mwa mpumbavu, wakati yeye hana haja ya kupata hekima?

17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

17 Rafiki hupenda wakati wote naye ndugu amezaliwa kwa ajili ya wakati wa shida.

18 A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.

18 Mtu mjinga hupana mkono ili kuweka rehani, naye huweka dhamana kwa jirani yake.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.

19 Yeye apendaye ugomvi apenda dhambi; naye ainuaye sana lango lake hutafuta uharibifu.

20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

20 Mtu mwenye moyo mpotovu hawezi kufanikiwa; naye ambaye ulimi wake ni mdanganyifu huanguka kwenye taabu.

21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.

21 Kuwa na mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni; hakuna furaha kwa baba wa mpumbavu.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

22 Moyo wenye furaha ni dawa nzuri, bali roho iliyopondeka hukausha mifupa.

23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.

23 Mtu mwovu hukubali rushwa kwa siri ili kupotosha njia ya haki.

24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

24 Mtu wa ufahamu huitazama hekima, lakini macho ya mpumbavu huhangaika hadi kwenye miisho ya dunia.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

25 Mwana mpumbavu huleta huzuni kwa baba yake na uchungu kwa yeye aliyemzaa.

26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.

26 Si vizuri kumwadhibu mtu asiye na hatia, au kuwapiga sana maafisa kwa ajili ya uadilifu wao.

27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

27 Mtu mwenye maarifa hutumia maneno kwa kujizuia, naye mtu mwenye ufahamu ana moyo wa utulivu.

28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.

28 Hata mtu mpumbavu hudhaniwa kuwa na hekima kama akinyamaza, na mwenye ufahamu kama akiuzuia ulimi wake.