122:1 Mhu 7:1Heri kuchagua jina jema kuliko utajiri mwingi,
kuheshimiwa ni bora kuliko fedha au dhahabu.
222:2 Ay 31:15; Mt 5:45; Za 49:1-2Tajiri na maskini wanafanana kwa hili:
Bwana ni Muumba wao wote.
322:3 Mit 14:16; 27:12; Isa 26:20Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha,
bali mjinga huendelea mbele kama kipofu nayo ikamtesa.
422:4 Mit 15:33; 10:27; Dan 4:36Unyenyekevu na kumcha Bwana
huleta utajiri, heshima na uzima.
522:5 Mit 15:19; 1Yn 5:18Katika mapito ya waovu kuna miiba na mitego,
bali yeye ailindaye nafsi yake hukaa mbali nayo.
622:6 Efe 6:4Mfundishe mtoto njia impasayo kuiendea,
naye hataiacha hata akiwa mzee.
722:7 Yak 2:6Matajiri huwatawala maskini
naye akopaye ni mtumwa wa akopeshaye.
822:8 Hos 10:13; 8:7; Kut 1:20; Gal 6:7-8; Za 125:3Yeye aupandaye uovu huvuna taabu,
nayo fimbo ya ghadhabu yake itaangamizwa.
922:9 Kum 14:29; 2Kor 9:6; Mit 11:25; 28:27Mtu mkarimu yeye mwenyewe atabarikiwa
kwa kuwa hushiriki chakula chake na maskini.
1022:10 Mit 26:20; Mwa 21:9, 10; Za 101:5Mfukuze mwenye dhihaka,
na mvutano utatoweka;
ugomvi na matukano vitakoma.
1122:11 Mit 16:13; Mt 5:8Yeye apendaye moyo safi na yeye ambaye maneno yake ni ya neema,
mfalme atakuwa rafiki yake.
12Macho ya Bwana hulinda maarifa,
bali huyapinga maneno ya asiye mwaminifu.
1322:13 Mit 26:13Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba nje!”
au, “Nitauawa katika mitaa!”
1422:14 Mit 6:12; Mhu 7:26Kinywa cha mwanamke kahaba ni shimo refu;
yeye aliye chini ya ghadhabu ya Bwana
atatumbukia ndani yake.
1522:15 Mit 13:24; 20:30Upumbavu umefungwa ndani ya moyo wa mtoto,
bali fimbo ya adhabu itaufukuzia mbali naye.
1622:16 Ay 20:19-23; Amo 2:6-8; Isa 3:14-15; Yak 2:13Yeye amwoneaye maskini ili kujiongezea mali,
naye ampaye tajiri zawadi, wote huwa maskini.
Misemo Ya Wenye Hekima
1722:17 Mit 1:8; 1:6; 30:1; 31:1; 2:2Tega sikio na usikie misemo ya wenye hekima,
elekeza moyo wako kwenye yale nifundishayo,
18kwa maana inapendeza unapoyahifadhi moyoni mwako
na kuwa nayo yote tayari midomoni mwako.
19Ili tumaini lako liwe katika Bwana,
hata wewe, ninakufundisha leo.
2022:20 Mit 8:6Je, sijakuandikia misemo thelathini,
misemo ya mashauri na maarifa,
2122:21 1Pet 3:15; Mhu 12:10kukufundisha maneno ya kweli na ya kuaminika,
ili uweze kutoa majibu sahihi
kwake yeye aliyekutuma?
2222:22 Law 25:17; Zek 7:10; Kut 23:6; Mal 3:5Usiwadhulumu maskini kwa sababu ni maskini,
wala kumdhulumu mhitaji mahakamani,
2322:23 Ay 29:16; Za 12:5; 1Sam 25:39kwa sababu Bwana atalichukua shauri lao
naye atawateka wao waliowateka.
24Usifanye urafiki na mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka,
usishirikiane na yule aliye mwepesi kukasirika,
2522:25 1Kor 15:33la sivyo utajifunza njia zake
na kujiingiza mwenyewe kwenye mtego.
2622:26 Kum 19:14; Mit 23:10Usiwe mwenye kupana mikono katika rehani,
au kuweka dhamana kwa ajili ya madeni.
2722:27 Mit 11:15; 17:18Kama ukikosa njia ya kulipa,
kitanda chako
kitachukuliwa ukiwa umekilalia.
2822:28 Kum 19:14Usisogeze jiwe la mpaka wa zamani
lililowekwa na baba zako.
2922:29 1Fal 11:28; Mwa 41:46; Mhu 9:10Je, unamwona mtu stadi katika kazi yake?
Atahudumu mbele ya wafalme;
hatahudumu mbele ya watu duni.
1A good name is more desirable than great riches;
to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
2Rich and poor have this in common:
The Lord is the Maker of them all.
3The prudent see danger and take refuge,
but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
4Humility is the fear of the Lord;
its wages are riches and honor and life.
5In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,
but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
6Start children off on the way they should go,
and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
7The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is slave to the lender.
8Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,
and the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
9The generous will themselves be blessed,
for they share their food with the poor.
10Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
quarrels and insults are ended.
11One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
will have the king for a friend.
12The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
13The sluggard says, “There’s a lion outside!
I’ll be killed in the public square!”
14The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;
a man who is under the Lord’s wrath falls into it.
15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
16One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
and one who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty.
Thirty Sayings of the Wise
Saying 1
17Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;
apply your heart to what I teach,
18for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
and have all of them ready on your lips.
19So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I teach you today, even you.
20Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
sayings of counsel and knowledge,
21teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,
so that you bring back truthful reports
to those you serve?
Saying 2
22Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
and do not crush the needy in court,
23for the Lord will take up their case
and will exact life for life.
Saying 3
24Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
do not associate with one easily angered,
25or you may learn their ways
and get yourself ensnared.
Saying 4
26Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge
or puts up security for debts;
27if you lack the means to pay,
your very bed will be snatched from under you.
Saying 5
28Do not move an ancient boundary stone
set up by your ancestors.
Saying 6
29Do you see someone skilled in their work?
They will serve before kings;
they will not serve before officials of low rank.
