Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
Hizi ni mithali zaidi za Solomoni, zilizonakiliwa na watu wa Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda:
2 The glory of God [is] to hide a thing, And the glory of kings [is] to search out a matter.
Ni Utukufu wa Mungu kuficha jambo, bali ni utukufu wa wafalme kuchunguza jambo.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings—[are] unsearchable.
Kama mbingu zilivyo juu na nchi ilivyo chini, ndivyo ambavyo mioyo ya wafalme haichunguziki.
4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
Ondoa takataka kwenye madini ya fedha, nako ndani yake kutatokea chombo cha mfua fedha.
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is established in righteousness.
Ondoa waovu mbele ya mfalme, nacho kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa kwa njia ya haki.
6 Do not honor yourself before a king, And do not stand in the place of the great.
Usijikweze mwenyewe mbele ya mfalme, wala usidai nafasi miongoni mwa watu wakuu;
7 For better [that] he has said to you, “Come up here,” Than [that] he humbles you before a noble, Whom your eyes have seen.
ni afadhali yeye akuambie, “Njoo huku juu,” kuliko yeye kukuaibisha mbele ya mkuu. Kile ulichokiona kwa macho yako
8 Do not go forth to strive, hurry, turn, What do you do in its latter end, When your neighbor causes you to blush?
usiharakishe kukipeleka mahakamani, maana utafanya nini mwishoni kama jirani yako atakuaibisha?
9 Plead your cause with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret counsel of another,
Kama ukifanya shauri na jirani yako, usisaliti siri ya mtu mwingine,
10 Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
ama yeye aisikiaye aweza kukuaibisha na kamwe sifa yako mbaya haitaondoka.
11 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
Neno lisemwalo kwa wakati ufaao ni kama matunda ya mtofaa ya dhahabu yaliyowekwa kwenye vijalizo vya fedha.
12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
Kama vile kipuli cha dhahabu au pambo la dhahabu safi, ndivyo lilivyo karipio la mtu mwenye hekima kwa sikio lisikilizalo.
13 As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And he refreshes the soul of his masters.
Kama vile ubaridi wa theluji wakati wa mavuno ndivyo alivyo mjumbe mwaminifu kwa wale wamtumao, huburudisha roho za bwana zake.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
Kama vile mawingu na upepo pasipo mvua ndivyo alivyo mtu ajisifuye kwa zawadi ambazo hatoi.
15 A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
Kwa njia ya uvumilivu mtawala aweza kushawishiwa, nao ulimi laini waweza kuvunja mfupa.
16 You have found honey—eat your sufficiency, Lest you are satiated [with] it, and have vomited it.
Ukipata asali, kula kiasi tu cha kukutosha, ukila zaidi, utatapika.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
Ingiza mguu wako nyumbani kwa jirani yako mara chache, ukizidisha, atakukinai na atakuchukia.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying a false testimony against his neighbor.
Kama vile rungu au upanga au mshale mkali ndivyo alivyo mtu atoaye ushuhuda wa uongo dhidi ya jirani yake.
19 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
Kama vile jino bovu au mguu uliolemaa, ndivyo ilivyo kumtegemea mtu asiye mwaminifu wakati wa shida.
20 Whoever is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on natron, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
Kama vile avuaye mavazi siku ya baridi, au kama siki iliyomwagwa juu ya magadi, ndivyo alivyo yeye amuimbiaye nyimbo mtu mwenye moyo mzito.
21 If he who is hating you hungers, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirsts, cause him to drink water.
Kama adui yako ana njaa, mpe chakula ale; kama ana kiu, mpe maji anywe.
22 For you are putting coals on his head, And YHWH gives repayment to you.
Kwa kufanya hivyo, unaweka makaa ya moto yanayowaka kichwani pake, naye Bwana atakupa thawabu.
23 A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
Kama vile upepo wa kaskazini uletavyo mvua, ndivyo ulimi usingiziao uletavyo uso wa hasira.
24 Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
Ni afadhali kuishi pembeni mwa paa la nyumba, kuliko kuishi nyumba moja na mke mgomvi.
25 [As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
Kama vile maji baridi kwa nafsi iliyochoka ndivyo zilivyo habari njema kutoka nchi ya mbali.
26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
Kama vile chemchemi iliyotibuliwa matope au kisima kilichotiwa taka ndivyo alivyo mtu mwenye haki akishiriki na waovu.
27 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one’s own honor—honor.
Si vyema kula asali nyingi sana, wala si heshima kujitafutia heshima yako mwenyewe.
28 A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
Kama vile mji ambao kuta zake zimebomoka ndivyo alivyo mtu ambaye hawezi kujitawala mwenyewe.
