1Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4By justice a king gives a country stability,
but those who are greedy for29:4 Or who give bribes tear it down.
5Those who flatter their neighbors
are spreading nets for their feet.
6Evildoers are snared by their own sin,
but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
7The righteous care about justice for the poor,
but the wicked have no such concern.
8Mockers stir up a city,
but the wise turn away anger.
9If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
and seek to kill the upright.
11Fools give full vent to their rage,
but the wise bring calm in the end.
12If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.
13The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.
14If a king judges the poor with fairness,
his throne will be established forever.
15A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
16When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
but the righteous will see their downfall.
17Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
they will bring you the delights you desire.
18Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
19Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
though they understand, they will not respond.
20Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
21A servant pampered from youth
will turn out to be insolent.
22An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
23Pride brings a person low,
but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
24The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
they are put under oath and dare not testify.
25Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
26Many seek an audience with a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.
27The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.
129:1 2Nya 36:16; Mit 6:15Mtu anayeendelea kuwa na shingo ngumu baada ya maonyo mengi,
ataangamia ghafula, wala hapati dawa.
229:2 2Fal 11:20; Es 8:15; Mit 28:12Wenye haki wanapostawi, watu hufurahi;
waovu watawalapo, watu hulia kwa huzuni.
329:3 1Fal 1:48; Mit 10:1; 23:15-16; 5:8-10; Lk 15:11-32Mtu apendaye hekima huleta furaha kwa baba yake,
bali aambatanaye na makahaba hutapanya mali yake.
429:4 Mit 8:15-16Kwa haki mfalme huipa nchi uthabiti,
bali mfalme aliye na tamaa ya rushwa huiangamiza.
529:5 Ay 32:21; Mit 26:28Yeyote amsifuye jirani yake isivyostahili,
anautandaza wavu kuitega miguu yake.
629:6 Ay 5:13; Mhu 9:12Mtu mbaya hutegwa na dhambi yake mwenyewe
bali mwenye haki huweza kuimba na kufurahi.
729:7 Ay 29:16; Za 41:1; Isa 35:3-4Mwenye haki hujali haki kwa ajili ya maskini,
bali mwovu hajishughulishi na hilo.
829:8 Mit 11:11; 16:14Wenye mzaha huuchochea mji,
bali watu wenye hekima hugeuzia mbali hasira.
929:9 Mt 11:17Kama mwenye hekima akienda mahakamani na mpumbavu,
mpumbavu hukasirika na kudhihaki, wala hakuna amani.
1029:10 Mwa 4:5-8; 1Yn 3:12Watu wamwagao damu humchukia mtu mwadilifu
na hutafuta kumuua mtu mnyofu.
1129:11 Ay 15:13; Mit 12:16Mpumbavu huonyesha hasira yake yote,
bali mwenye hekima hujizuia.
1229:12 2Fal 21:9; Ay 34:30Kama mtawala akisikiliza uongo,
maafisa wake wote huwa waovu.
1329:13 Mit 22:2; Mt 5:45Mtu maskini na mtu anayeonea wanafanana kwa jambo hili:
Bwana hutia nuru macho yao wote wawili.
1429:14 Mit 29:4; Za 72:1-5; Mit 16:12Kama mfalme akiwaamua maskini kwa haki,
kiti chake cha enzi kitakuwa thabiti siku zote.
1529:15 Mit 29:17; 13:24Fimbo ya maonyo hutia hekima,
bali mtoto aliyeachiwa bila maonyo
humwaibisha mama yake.
1629:16 Za 37:36; 58:10; 91:8Wakati waovu wanapostawi,
pia dhambi vivyo hivyo,
lakini wenye haki wataliona anguko lao.
1729:17 Mit 13:24; 29:15Mrudi mwanao, naye atakupa amani,
atakufurahisha nafsi yako.
1829:18 Za 19:11; Yn 13:17; Amo 8:11-12; 1Sam 3:1Mahali pasipo na ufunuo, watu kujizuia,
bali ana heri mtu yule aishikaye sheria.
19Mtumishi hawezi kuonywa kwa maneno matupu,
ajapoelewa, hataitikia.
2029:20 Mit 14:17Je, unamwona mtu azungumzaye kwa haraka?
Kuna matumaini zaidi kwa mpumbavu kuliko yeye.
21Kama mtu akimdekeza mtumishi wake tangu ujanani,
atamletea sikitiko mwishoni.
2229:22 Mit 14:17Mtu mwenye hasira huchochea ugomvi,
naye mtu mwenye hasira ya haraka
hutenda dhambi nyingi.
2329:23 Isa 66:2; Mt 23:12; Yak 4:6Kiburi cha mtu humshusha,
bali mtu mwenye roho ya unyenyekevu
hupata heshima.
2429:24 Law 5:1Anayekubaliana na mwizi ni adui wa nafsi yake mwenyewe;
huapishwa lakini hathubutu kushuhudia.
2529:25 1Sam 15:24; Mit 28:25; 16:20Kuwaogopa watu huwa ni mtego,
bali yeyote amtumainiaye Bwana atakuwa salama.
2629:26 Mit 19:6; 16:33Wengi hutafuta kusikilizwa na mtawala,
bali mtu hupata haki kutoka kwa Bwana.
2729:27 Mit 29:10Mwenye haki huwachukia sana wasio waaminifu;
waovu huwachukia sana wenye haki.
