Mchuma janga hula na wakwao

Mchuma janga hula na wakwao.

He who earns calamity,eats it with his family.

Mchovya asali hachovi mara moja

Mchovya asali hachovi mara moja.

He who dips his finger into honey does not dip it once.

Mchonga mwiko hukimbiza mkono wake

Mchonga mwiko hukimbiza mkono wake.

The maker of wooden spoons saves his hand from fire.

Mchimba kisima hungia mwenyewe

Mchimba kisima hungia mwenyewe.

He who digs a pit will fall into it himself

Mchezea zuri ,baya humfika

Mchezea zuri ,baya humfika.

He who ridicules the good will be overtaken by evil.

Mcheza na tope humrukia

Mcheza na tope humrukia.

He who plays with mud will get splashed.

Mcheza kwao hutuzwa

Mcheza kwao hutuzwa.

He who dances at home will be rewarded.

Mcheza hawi kiwete,ngoma yataka matao

Mcheza hawi kiwete,ngoma yataka matao.

A dancer will not become crippled for dancing calls for grace.

Mcheka kilema hafi bila kumpata

Mcheka kilema hafi bila kumpata.

He who laughs at a cripple will not die without becoming himself

Mchele moja mapishi mengi

Mchele moja mapishi mengi.

  Rice is all one but they are many ways of cooking it.

Mchelea mwana kulia hulia yeye

Mchelea mwana kulia hulia yeye.

He who fears the crying of a child,will cry himself.

Mchama ago hanyeli,huenda akauya papo.

Mchama ago hanyeli,huenda akauya papo.

A traveller does not make a mess where he had made a camp as he might one day come back.

Mchakacho ujao,halulengwi na jiwe

Mchakacho ujao,halulengwi na jiwe.

You dont throw stones at an approching craclin noise in the bush wait and see what is it first

Mchagua nazi hupata koroma

Mchagua nazi hupata koroma.

He who selects coconut with great care ends up getting a bad coconut

Mchagua jembe si mkulima

Mchagua jembe si mkulima.

One who selects his hoe is not real farmer.

Mbiu za mgambo ikilia kuna jambo

Mbiu za mgambo ikilia kuna jambo.

When an oxhorn of a news man is sounded,something is wrong

Mbio za sakafuni huishia ukingoni

Mbio za sakafuni huishia ukingoni.

Running on the roof finishes at the edge.

Mbinu hufuata mwendo

Mbinu hufuata mwendo.

A double jointed arm follows the leg action.i.e Like father like son.

Mavi ya kale hayanuki

Mavi ya kale hayanuki.

Old droppings do not stink.

Mavi usioyala,wayawingiani kuku

Mavi usioyala,wayawingiani kuku? 

Why drive away fowls from the dung you do not eat yourself?

Paka hakubali kulala chali

Paka hakubali kulala
chali.

A cat can never he
made to lie on its back.
303. Paka wa nyumba
haingwa. A cat belonging
to the house is not chased
away

Paka akiondoka, panya hutawala

Paka akiondoka, panya
hutawala.

when the cat
goes away, mice reign. cf.
When the cat's away, the
mice do play.

Painamapo ndipo painukapo

Painamapo ndipo
painukapo.

Where it
slopes down is where it
slopes up.

Masikini na mwanawe tajiri na mali yake

Masikini na mwanawe tajiri na mali yake.

A por man with his child a rich man with his wealth.

Masikini haokoti,akiokota huambiwa kaiba

Masikini haokoti,akiokota huambiwa kaiba.

A poor man does not pick up things if does they say he stole them.

Masikini akipata matako hulia mbwata

Masikini akipata matako hulia mbwata.

When a poor man gets something he boasts of his new wealth.

Maneno mema hutowa nyoka pangoni

Maneno mema hutowa nyoka pangoni.

Pleasent words will draw the snake from its hole.

Maneno makali hayavunji mfupa

Maneno makali hayavunji mfupa.

Words alone wont break bones.

Manahodha wengi chombo huenda mrama

Manahodha wengi chombo huenda mrama.

With many captains,the ship does not sail properly.i.e.Too many cooks spoil the broth

Majuto ni mjukuu

Majuto ni mjukuu.

Regrets are like a child,They come some considerable time after event.

Majumba makubwa husitiri mambo

Majumba makubwa husitiri mambo.

Big houses conceal a lot.

Maji yakimwagika hayazoleki

Maji yakimwagika hayazoleki.

If water is split,it can not be gathered up

Mpanda ngazi hushuka

Mpanda ngazi hushuka.

He who climbs a ladder comes down again.i.e.What goes up must come down

Maji yakija hupwa.When tide is high,it ebbs.

Maji ya kifufu ni bahari ya chungu

Maji ya kifufu ni bahari ya chungu.

Water in a coconut shell is like an ocean to an ant.

Maji yakija hupwa

Maji yakija hupwa.

When tide is high,it ebbs.

Maji ya kifufu ni bahari ya chungu

Maji ya kifufu ni bahari ya chungu.

Water in a coconut shell is like an ocean to an ant.

Maji usiyoyafika hujui wingi wake

Maji usiyoyafika hujui wingi wake.

You can not know the extent of water in a pond that you have never been to

Maji ukiyavuliya nguo huna budi kuyaogelea

Maji ukiyavuliya nguo huna budi kuyaogelea.

If you take of your clothes for water you must bathe

Maji huteremka bondeni,hayapandi mlima

Maji huteremka bondeni,hayapandi mlima.

Water flows down the valley does not climb the hill.

Maji hufuata mkondo

Maji hufuata mkondo.

water follows current.i.e.swim with current.

Maiti haulizwi sanda

Maiti haulizwi sanda.

A dead person is not asked for a shroud.

Mafahali wawili hawakai zizi moja

Mafahali wawili hawakai zizi moja.

Two bulls do not live in the same shade.

Macho hayana pazia

Macho hayana pazia

Eyes have no screens,they see all that is within view.

Maafuu hapatilizwi

Maafuu hapatilizwi.

You dont take viengeance on silliness.

Lisilokuwapo moyoni,halipo machoni

Lisilokuwapo moyoni,halipo machoni.

Out of sight out of mind

Lisemwalo lipo,ikiwa halipo laja

Lisemwalo lipo,ikiwa halipo laja.

What is benig talked about is here,and if its not it's comming around behind.

Lipitalo ,hupishwa

Lipitalo ,hupishwa .

Things dont just happen by accidents

Lila na fila hazitangamani

Lila na fila hazitangamani.

Good and evil will never mix.