Proverbs 25
1 These are also proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed:
Hizi tena ni mithali za Sulemani, zilinakiliwa 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 utukufu wa wafalme kutafiti juu ya jambo.
3 The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings—[are] unsearchable.
Kama mbingu ni kwa kimo na dunia ni kwa kina, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa wafalme hauchunguziki.
4 Take away dross from silver, And a vessel goes forth for the refiner,
Ondoa takataka kutoka kwenye fedha na mfua vyuma anaweza kutumia fedha katika ufundi wake.
5 Take away the wicked before a king, And his throne is established in righteousness.
Pamoja na hayo, waondoe watu waovu mbele ya mfalme na kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa kwa kutenda haki.
6 Do not honor yourself before a king, And do not stand in the place of the great.
Usijitukuze mwenyewe mbele ya mfalme na usisimame katika sehemu iliyoteuliwa kwa 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 bora yeye akuambie, “Njoo hapa” kuliko wewe kujiaibisha mbele ya mkuu.
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 kufanya kuhukumu, kwa kile ulichokishuhudia. Maana utafanya nini mwishoni, wakati jirani yako atakapokuaibisha?
9 Plead your cause with your neighbor, And do not reveal the secret counsel of another,
Jitetee kesi yako kati ya jirani yako na wewe na usifunue siri ya mtu mwingine,
10 Lest the hearer put you to shame, And your evil report not turn back.
au vinginevyo anayekusikia ataleta aibu juu yako na taarifa mbaya juu yako haiwezi kunyamazishwa.
11 Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
Kunena maneno yenye kuchaguliwa vizuri, ni kama nakshi za dhahabu iliyoungwa kwenye fedha.
12 A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
Kama pete ya dhahabu au kito kilichotengenezwa kwa dhahabu safi ndivyo lilivyo karipio la busara kwenye sikio linalosikia.
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 baridi ya theluji wakati wa mavuno ndivyo alivyo mjumbe mwaminifu kwa wenye kumtuma; huyahifadhi maisha ya mabwana wake.
14 Clouds and wind without rain, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
Kama mawingu na upepo bila mvua ndivyo alivyo mwenye kujisifu kuhusu zawadi asiyoitoa.
15 A ruler is persuaded by long-suffering, And a soft tongue breaks a bone.
Kwa uvumilivu mtawala anaweza kushawishiwa na ulimi raini unaweza kuvunja mfupa.
16 You have found honey—eat your sufficiency, Lest you are satiated [with] it, and have vomited it.
Kama utapata asali, kula ya kutosha- vingenevyo, ukila nyingi sana, utaitapika.
17 Withdraw your foot from your neighbor’s house, Lest he is satiated [with] you, and has hated you.
Usiweke mguu wako kwenye nyumba ya jirani yako mara nyingi, anaweza kuchoshwa nawe na kukuchukia.
18 A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying a false testimony against his neighbor.
Mtu anayetoa ushuhuda wa uongo dhidi ya jirani yake ni kama rungu lililotumiwa katika vita, au upanga, au mshale mkali.
19 A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
Kumtumaini mtu asiye mwaminifu wakati wa taabu ni kama jino bovu au mguu unaoteleza.
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 mtu anayevua nguo katika hali ya baridi, au kama siki iliyotiwa kwenye magadi, ndivyo alivyo anayeimba wimbo kwa 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 na kama ana kiu, mpe maji ya kunywa,
22 For you are putting coals on his head, And YHWH gives repayment to you.
maana utamwekea mkaa juu ya kichwa chake na Yehova atakupa thawabu.
23 A north wind brings forth rain, And a secret tongue—indignant faces.
Ni hakika upepo wa kaskazini huleta mvua, ndivyo mtu anayesema siri hufanya sura zikasirike.
24 Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
Ni bora kuishi kwenye pembe ya darini kuliko kuchangia nyumba pamoja na mwanamke mgomvi.
25 [As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
Kama maji ya baridi kwa mwenye kiu, ndivyo ilivyo habari njema kutoka nchi ya mbali.
26 A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
Kama chemchemi iliyochafuliwa au kisima kilichoharibiwa ndivyo alivyo mtu mwema ambaye huyumbayumba mbele ya watu waovu.
27 The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one’s own honor—honor.
Si vema kula asali nyingi mno; hivyo ni kama kutafuta heshima baada heshima.
28 A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!
Mtu bila kujitawala ni kama mji ulibomolewa na usiokuwa na kuta.
