Proverbs 25
1 These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
Hizi tena ni mithali za Sulemani, zilinakiliwa na watu wa Hezekia, mfalme wa Yuda.
2 The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business.
Ni utukufu wa Mungu kuficha jambo, bali utukufu wa wafalme kutafiti juu ya jambo.
3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
Kama mbingu ni kwa kimo na dunia ni kwa kina, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa wafalme hauchunguziki.
4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
Ondoa takataka kutoka kwenye fedha na mfua vyuma anaweza kutumia fedha katika ufundi wake.
5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
Pamoja na hayo, waondoe watu waovu mbele ya mfalme na kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa kwa kutenda haki.
6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
Usijitukuze mwenyewe mbele ya mfalme na usisimame katika sehemu iliyoteuliwa kwa watu wakuu.
7 for [it is] better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen.
Ni bora yeye akuambie, “Njoo hapa” kuliko wewe kujiaibisha mbele ya mkuu.
8 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last.
Usiharakishe kufanya kuhukumu, kwa kile ulichokishuhudia. Maana utafanya nini mwishoni, wakati jirani yako atakapokuaibisha?
9 Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
Jitetee kesi yako kati ya jirani yako na wewe na usifunue siri ya mtu mwingine,
10 lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably.
au vinginevyo anayekusikia ataleta aibu juu yako na taarifa mbaya juu yako haiwezi kunyamazishwa.
11 [As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
Kunena maneno yenye kuchaguliwa vizuri, ni kama nakshi za dhahabu iliyoungwa kwenye fedha.
12 In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
Kama pete ya dhahabu au kito kilichotengenezwa kwa dhahabu safi ndivyo lilivyo karipio la busara kwenye sikio linalosikia.
13 As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
Kama baridi ya theluji wakati wa mavuno ndivyo alivyo mjumbe mwaminifu kwa wenye kumtuma; huyahifadhi maisha ya mabwana wake.
14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
Kama mawingu na upepo bila mvua ndivyo alivyo mwenye kujisifu kuhusu zawadi asiyoitoa.
15 In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
Kwa uvumilivu mtawala anaweza kushawishiwa na ulimi raini unaweza kuvunja mfupa.
16 Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up.
Kama utapata asali, kula ya kutosha- vingenevyo, ukila nyingi sana, utaitapika.
17 Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee.
Usiweke mguu wako kwenye nyumba ya jirani yako mara nyingi, anaweza kuchoshwa nawe na kukuchukia.
18 [As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
Mtu anayetoa ushuhuda wa uongo dhidi ya jirani yake ni kama rungu lililotumiwa katika vita, au upanga, au mshale mkali.
19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
Kumtumaini mtu asiye mwaminifu wakati wa taabu ni kama jino bovu au mguu unaoteleza.
20 As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
Kama mtu anayevua nguo katika hali ya baridi, au kama siki iliyotiwa kwenye magadi, ndivyo alivyo anayeimba wimbo kwa mwenye moyo mzito.
21 If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
Kama adui yako ana njaa, mpe chakula ale na kama ana kiu, mpe maji ya kunywa,
22 for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good.
maana utamwekea mkaa juu ya kichwa chake na Yehova atakupa thawabu.
23 The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
Ni hakika upepo wa kaskazini huleta mvua, ndivyo mtu anayesema siri hufanya sura zikasirike.
24 [It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
Ni bora kuishi kwenye pembe ya darini kuliko kuchangia nyumba pamoja na mwanamke mgomvi.
25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
Kama maji ya baridi kwa mwenye kiu, ndivyo ilivyo habari njema kutoka nchi ya mbali.
26 As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
Kama chemchemi iliyochafuliwa au kisima kilichoharibiwa ndivyo alivyo mtu mwema ambaye huyumbayumba mbele ya watu waovu.
27 [It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings.
Si vema kula asali nyingi mno; hivyo ni kama kutafuta heshima baada heshima.
28 As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
Mtu bila kujitawala ni kama mji ulibomolewa na usiokuwa na kuta.
