1Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
2A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
those who anger him forfeit their lives.
3It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.
4Sluggards do not plow in season;
so at harvest time they look but find nothing.
5The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters,
but one who has insight draws them out.
6Many claim to have unfailing love,
but a faithful person who can find?
7The righteous lead blameless lives;
blessed are their children after them.
8When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he winnows out all evil with his eyes.
9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin”?
10Differing weights and differing measures—
the Lord detests them both.
11Even small children are known by their actions,
so is their conduct really pure and upright?
12Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.
13Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
stay awake and you will have food to spare.
14“It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer—
then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
15Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
17Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
but one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
18Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
19A gossip betrays a confidence;
so avoid anyone who talks too much.
20If someone curses their father or mother,
their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
21An inheritance claimed too soon
will not be blessed at the end.
22Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for the Lord, and he will avenge you.
23The Lord detests differing weights,
and dishonest scales do not please him.
24A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way?
25It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
and only later to consider one’s vows.
26A wise king winnows out the wicked;
he drives the threshing wheel over them.
27The human spirit is20:27 Or A person’s words are the lamp of the Lord
that sheds light on one’s inmost being.
28Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
through love his throne is made secure.
29The glory of young men is their strength,
gray hair the splendor of the old.
30Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
and beatings purge the inmost being.
120:1 Law 10:9; Hab 2:5; 1Sam 25:36; 1Fal 20:16; Mit 31:4Mvinyo ni mdhihaki na kileo ni mgomvi;
yeyote apotoshwaye navyo hana hekima.
220:2 Mit 8:36; 19:12; Es 7:7Ghadhabu ya mfalme ni kama ngurumo ya simba;
yeye amkasirishaye hupoteza uhai wake.
320:3 Mwa 13:8; Mit 17:14Ni kwa heshima ya mtu kujitenga ugomvi,
bali kila mpumbavu ni mwepesi kugombana.
420:4 Mit 6:6; Mhu 10:18Mvivu halimi kwa majira;
kwa hiyo wakati wa mavuno hutazama
lakini hapati chochote.
520:5 Za 18:16Makusudi ya moyo wa mwanadamu ni maji yenye kina,
lakini mtu mwenye ufahamu huyachota.
620:6 Za 12:1; Mt 6:2; Mhu 7:28; Lk 18:8Watu wengi hujidai kuwa na upendo usiokoma,
bali mtu mwaminifu ni nani awezaye kumpata?
720:7 Za 26:1; 37:25-26; 112:2Mtu mwenye haki huishi maisha yasiyo na lawama,
wamebarikiwa watoto wake baada yake.
820:8 1Fal 7:7; Mit 25:4-5Wakati mfalme aketipo katika kiti chake cha enzi kuhukumu,
hupepeta ubaya wote kwa macho yake.
920:9 Mhu 7:20; 1Fal 8:46; 1Yn 1:8Ni nani awezaye kusema, “Nimeuweka moyo wangu safi;
mimi ni safi na sina dhambi?”
1020:10 Mit 20:23; 11:1Mawe ya kupimia yaliyo tofauti na vipimo tofauti,
Bwana huchukia vyote viwili.
1120:11 Za 39:1; Mt 7:16Hata mtoto hujulikana kwa matendo yake,
kama tabia yake ni safi na adili.
1220:12 Kut 4:11; Rum 11:26; Za 94:9Masikio yasikiayo na macho yaonayo,
Bwana ndiye alivifanya vyote viwili.
1320:13 Mit 6:11; 19:15; Rum 12:11Usiupende usingizi la sivyo utakuwa maskini,
uwe macho nawe utakuwa na chakula cha akiba.
14“Haifai, haifai!” asema mnunuzi,
kisha huondoka akijisifia ununuzi wake.
1520:15 Ay 28:12, 16, 17, 18, 19Dhahabu kunayo, na marijani kwa wingi,
lakini midomo inenayo maarifa
ni kito cha thamani kilicho adimu.
1620:16 Kut 22:26; Mit 27:13Chukua vazi la yule awekaye dhamana
kwa ajili ya mgeni;
lishikilie iwe dhamana kama anafanya hivyo
kwa ajili ya mwanamke mpotovu.
17Chakula kilichopatikana kwa hila ni kitamu kwa mwanadamu,
bali huishia na kinywa kilichojaa changarawe.
1820:18 Mit 11:14; 24:6Fanya mipango kwa kutafuta mashauri,
ukipigana vita, tafuta maelekezo.
1920:19 Mit 11:13Maneno ya kusengenya husababisha kutokuaminika,
kwa hiyo mwepuke mtu anayezungumza kupita kiasi.
2020:20 Kut 21:17; Mit 30:11; Ay 18:5; Law 20:9Ikiwa mtu atamlaani baba yake au mama yake,
taa yake itazimwa katika giza nene.
2120:21 Mit 28:8; Hab 2:6Urithi upatikanao haraka mwanzoni,
hautabarikiwa mwishoni.
2220:22 Mit 24:29; Yer 42:11; Kum 32:35; Rum 12:17-19Usiseme, “Nitakulipiza kwa ajili ya kosa hili!”
Mngojee Bwana, naye atakuokoa.
2320:23 Kum 25:13Bwana anachukia sana mawe ya kupimia ya udanganyifu,
nazo mizani zisizo halali hazimpendezi.
2420:24 Mit 19:21; Yer 10:23; Rum 8:26Hatua za mtu huongozwa na Bwana.
Anawezaje basi mtu yeyote kuelewa njia yake mwenyewe?
2520:25 Mhu 5:2-5; Yer 44:25Ni mtego kwa mtu kuweka wakfu kitu kwa haraka
na baada ya kitambo kidogo kufikiria tena nadhiri zake.
2620:26 Mit 20:8Mfalme mwenye hekima hupepeta waovu,
hulipitisha gurudumu la kupuria juu yao.
2720:27 Za 119:105; Mit 16:2Taa ya Bwana huchunguza roho ya mwanadamu,
huchunguza utu wake wa ndani.
2820:28 Mit 29:14; Isa 16:5Upendo na uaminifu humweka mfalme salama,
kwa njia ya upendo, kiti chake cha enzi huwa salama.
2920:29 Mit 16:31Utukufu wa vijana ni nguvu zao,
mvi ni fahari ya uzee.
3020:30 Za 51:2; Mit 22:15Mapigo na majeraha huusafisha ubaya,
nayo michapo hutakasa utu wa ndani.
