1Mtu ajitengaye na wengine
hufuata matakwa yake mwenyewe;
hupiga vita kila shauri jema.
218:2 Mit 12:23Mpumbavu hafurahii ufahamu,
bali hufurahia kutangaza
maoni yake mwenyewe.
3Wakati uovu unapokuja, dharau huja pia,
pamoja na aibu huja lawama.
418:4 Za 18:16Maneno ya kinywa cha mwanadamu ni kina cha maji,
bali chemchemi ya hekima ni kijito kinachobubujika.
518:5 Law 19:15; Mit 28:21; Za 82:2; Ay 13:7-8Sio vizuri kumpendelea mtu mwovu,
au kumnyima haki asiye na hatia.
618:6 Mit 10:14Midomo ya mpumbavu humletea ugomvi
na kinywa chake hualika kipigo.
718:7 Za 140:9; 64:8; Mhu 10:12Kinywa cha mpumbavu ni uharibifu wake
na midomo yake ni mtego kwa nafsi yake.
818:8 Mit 26:22Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu;
huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.
918:9 Mit 28:24Mtu aliye mlegevu katika kazi yake
ni ndugu na yule anayeharibu.
1018:10 2Sam 22:3; Za 61:3; 18:2Jina la Bwana ni ngome imara,
wenye haki huikimbilia na kuwa salama.
1118:11 Mit 10:15Mali ya tajiri ni mji wake wenye ngome,
wanaudhania kuwa ukuta usioweza kurukwa.
1218:12 Mit 11:2; 15:33Kabla ya anguko moyo wa mtu hujaa kiburi,
bali unyenyekevu hutangulia heshima.
1318:13 Mit 20:25; Yn 7:51Yeye ajibuye kabla ya kusikiliza,
huo ni upumbavu wake na aibu yake.
1418:14 Mit 15:13; 17:22Roho ya mtu itastahimili katika ugonjwa
bali roho iliyovunjika ni nani awezaye kuistahimili?
1518:15 Mit 15:14; Efe 1:17Moyo wa mwenye ufahamu hujipatia maarifa,
masikio ya mwenye hekima huyatafuta maarifa.
1618:16 Mwa 32:20; 39:2-6; 41:38-44; 1Sam 10:4Zawadi humfungulia njia mtoaji,
nayo humleta mbele ya wakuu.
17Yeye aliye wa kwanza kuleta mashtaka huonekana sahihi,
hadi mwingine ajitokezapo na kumuuliza maswali.
18Kupiga kura hukomesha mashindano
na kutenganisha wapinzani wakuu wanaopingana.
1918:19 1Sam 17:28Ndugu aliyechukizwa ni mgumu kuridhika
kuliko mji uliozungushiwa ngome,
nayo mabishano ni kama malango
ya ngome yenye makomeo.
2018:20 Mit 12:14Tumbo la mtu litajaa kutokana na tunda la kinywa chake,
atashibishwa mavuno yanayotokana na midomo yake.
2118:21 Mit 13:2-3; Mt 12:37Mauti na uzima viko katika uwezo wa ulimi,
nao waupendao watakula matunda yake.
2218:22 Mit 12:4; 31:10; Ay 33:26Apataye mke apata kitu chema
naye ajipatia kibali kwa Bwana.
2318:23 Mwa 42:13-16; Yak 2:3Mtu maskini huomba kuhurumiwa
bali tajiri hujibu kwa ukali.
2418:24 1Sam 20:42; Yn 15:13-15Mtu mwenye marafiki wengi wanaweza kumharibu,
bali yuko rafiki aambatanaye na mtu kwa karibu kuliko ndugu.
1A person who isn’t friendly looks out only for themselves.
They oppose all good sense by starting fights.
2Foolish people don’t want to understand.
They take delight in saying only what they think.
3People hate it when evil comes.
And they refuse to honor those who bring shame.
4The words of a person’s mouth are like deep water.
But the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.
5It isn’t good to favor those who do wrong.
That would keep justice from those who aren’t guilty.
6What foolish people say leads to arguing.
They are just asking for a beating.
7The words of foolish people drag them down.
They are trapped by what they say.
8The words of anyone who talks about others are like tasty bites of food.
They go deep down inside you.
9Anyone who doesn’t want to work
is like someone who destroys.
10The name of the Lord is like a strong tower.
Godly people run to it and are safe.
11The wealth of rich people is like a city that makes them feel safe.
They think of it as a city with walls that can’t be climbed.
12If a person’s heart is proud, they will be destroyed.
So don’t be proud if you want to be honored.
13To answer before listening
is foolish and shameful.
14A cheerful spirit gives strength even during sickness.
But you can’t keep going if you have a broken spirit.
15Those whose hearts understand what is right get knowledge.
That’s because the ears of those who are wise listen for it.
16A gift opens the door
and helps the giver meet important people.
17In court, the first one to speak seems right.
Then someone else comes forward and questions him.
18Casting lots will put a stop to arguing.
It will keep the strongest enemies apart.
19A broken friendship is harder to handle than a city with high walls around it.
And arguing is like the locked gates of a mighty city.
20Because of what they say a person can fill their stomach.
What their words produce can satisfy them.
21Your tongue has the power of life and death.
Those who love to talk will eat the fruit of their words.
22The one who finds a wife finds what is good.
He receives favor from the Lord.
23Poor people beg for mercy.
But rich people answer in a mean way.
24A person with unfaithful friends soon comes to ruin.
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
