1
Afadhali mego kavu pamoja na utulivu, Kuliko nyumba yenye karamu nyingi pamoja na magomvi.
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
2
Mtumwa atendaye kwa busara atamtawala mwana atendaye mambo ya aibu; Tena atapata sehemu ya urithi kati ya ndugu.
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3
Kalibuni kwa fedha, na tanuru kwa dhahabu; Bali Bwana huijaribu mioyo.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4
Mtenda mabaya husikiliza midomo ya uovu; Na mwongo hutega sikio lake kusikiliza ulimi wa madhara.
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5
Amdhihakiye maskini humsuta Muumba wake; Naye aufurahiaye msiba hatakosa adhabu.
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6
Wana wa wana ndio taji ya wazee, Na utukufu wa watoto ni baba zao.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7
Maneno mazuri hayapendezi kinywani mwa mpumbavu; Siuze midomo ya uongo kinywani mwa mkuu.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8
Kipawa ni kama kito cha thamani machoni pake yeye aliye nacho; Kila kigeukapo hufanikiwa.
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9
Afunikaye kosa hutafuta kupendwa; Bali yeye akashifuye neno hutenga rafiki.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10
Lawama hupenya moyoni mwa mwenye ufahamu, Kuliko mapigo mia moyoni mwa mpumbavu.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11
Mtu mwovu hataki neno ila kuasi tu; Kwa hiyo mjumbe mkali atatumwa kwake.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12
Afadhali mtu akutwe na dubu aliyenyang'anywa watoto wake, Kuliko na mpumbavu katika upumbavu wake.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13
Yeye arudishaye mabaya badala ya mema, Mabaya hayataondoka nyumbani mwake.
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14
Mwanzo wa ugomvi ni kama kutoboa penye maji; Basi acheni ugomvi kabla haujafurika.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15
Yeye asemaye kwamba asiye haki ana haki; naye asemaye kwamba mwenye haki hana haki; Hao wote wawili ni chukizo kwa Bwana.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.
16
Nini maana yake, mpumbavu kuwa na fedha mkononi mwake ya kununulia hekima, Ikiwa hana moyo wa ufahamu?
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17
Rafiki hupenda sikuzote; Na ndugu amezaliwa kwa siku ya taabu.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18
Aliyepungukiwa na akili hupana mkono na mtu; Na kuwa mdhamini mbele ya mwenzake.
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19
Apendaye ugomvi hupenda dhambi; Auinuaye sana mlango wake hutafuta uharibifu.
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20
Mtu mwenye moyo wa ukaidi hatapata mema; Na mwenye ulimi wa upotofu huanguka katika misiba.
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21
Azaaye mpumbavu ni kwa huzuni yake mwenyewe; Wala baba wa mpumbavu hana furaha.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22
Moyo uliochangamka ni dawa nzuri; Bali roho iliyopondeka huikausha mifupa.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23
Asiye haki hutoa rushwa kifuani, Ili kuzipotosha njia za hukumu.
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24
Hekima huwa machoni pake mwenye ufahamu; Bali macho ya mpumbavu huwa katika ncha za dunia.
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25
Mwana mpumbavu ni huzuni kwa babaye, Na uchungu kwa mamaye aliyemzaa.
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26
Tena kumwadhibu mwenye haki si vizuri; Wala si kwema kuwapiga wakuu kwa unyofu wao.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27
Azuiaye maneno yake ni mwenye maarifa; Na mwenye roho ya utulivu ana busara.
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28
Hata mpumbavu akinyamaza, huhesabiwa hekima; Akifumba midomo yake, huhesabiwa ufahamu.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.