< Proverbs 25 >
1 These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
Hizi tena ni mithali za Sulemani, zilinakiliwa na watu wa Hezekia, mfalme wa Yuda.
2 [It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings [is] to search out a matter.
Ni utukufu wa Mungu kuficha jambo, bali utukufu wa wafalme kutafiti juu ya jambo.
3 The heaven for hight, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable.
Kama mbingu ni kwa kimo na dunia ni kwa kina, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa wafalme hauchunguziki.
4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
Ondoa takataka kutoka kwenye fedha na mfua vyuma anaweza kutumia fedha katika ufundi wake.
5 Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
Pamoja na hayo, waondoe watu waovu mbele ya mfalme na kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa kwa kutenda haki.
6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men]:
Usijitukuze mwenyewe mbele ya mfalme na usisimame katika sehemu iliyoteuliwa kwa watu wakuu.
7 For better [it is] that it be said to thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy eyes have seen.
Ni bora yeye akuambie, “Njoo hapa” kuliko wewe kujiaibisha mbele ya mkuu.
8 Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
Usiharakishe kufanya kuhukumu, kwa kile ulichokishuhudia. Maana utafanya nini mwishoni, wakati jirani yako atakapokuaibisha?
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself]; and reveal not a secret to another:
Jitetee kesi yako kati ya jirani yako na wewe na usifunue siri ya mtu mwingine,
10 Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thy infamy turn not away.
au vinginevyo anayekusikia ataleta aibu juu yako na taarifa mbaya juu yako haiwezi kunyamazishwa.
11 A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Kunena maneno yenye kuchaguliwa vizuri, ni kama nakshi za dhahabu iliyoungwa kwenye fedha.
12 [As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
Kama pete ya dhahabu au kito kilichotengenezwa kwa dhahabu safi ndivyo lilivyo karipio la busara kwenye sikio linalosikia.
13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth 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 Whoever boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain.
Kama mawingu na upepo bila mvua ndivyo alivyo mwenye kujisifu kuhusu zawadi asiyoitoa.
15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
Kwa uvumilivu mtawala anaweza kushawishiwa na ulimi raini unaweza kuvunja mfupa.
16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.
Kama utapata asali, kula ya kutosha- vingenevyo, ukila nyingi sana, utaitapika.
17 Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee.
Usiweke mguu wako kwenye nyumba ya jirani yako mara nyingi, anaweza kuchoshwa nawe na kukuchukia.
18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
Mtu anayetoa ushuhuda wa uongo dhidi ya jirani yake ni kama rungu lililotumiwa katika vita, au upanga, au mshale mkali.
19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Kumtumaini mtu asiye mwaminifu wakati wa taabu ni kama jino bovu au mguu unaoteleza.
20 [As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre; so [is] he that singeth songs to a heavy 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 thy enemy shall hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he shall thirst, give him water to drink:
Kama adui yako ana njaa, mpe chakula ale na kama ana kiu, mpe maji ya kunywa,
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.
maana utamwekea mkaa juu ya kichwa chake na Yehova atakupa thawabu.
23 The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
Ni hakika upepo wa kaskazini huleta mvua, ndivyo mtu anayesema siri hufanya sura zikasirike.
24 [It is] better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
Ni bora kuishi kwenye pembe ya darini kuliko kuchangia nyumba pamoja na mwanamke mgomvi.
25 [As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news from a far country.
Kama maji ya baridi kwa mwenye kiu, ndivyo ilivyo habari njema kutoka nchi ya mbali.
26 A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a turbid fountain, and a corrupt spring.
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: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory.
Si vema kula asali nyingi mno; hivyo ni kama kutafuta heshima baada heshima.
28 He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.
Mtu bila kujitawala ni kama mji ulibomolewa na usiokuwa na kuta.