Proverbs 26
1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honour [is] not comely for a fool.
Kama theluji wakati wa kiangazi au mvua wakati wa mavuno, ndivyo asivyostahili heshima mpumbavu.
2 As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
Kama shomoro apigapigavyo mabawa yake au mbayuwayu katika kuruka kwake kasi, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyo na sababu haimpati mtu.
3 A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
Mjeledi kwa farasi, lijamu kwa punda, nayo fimbo kwa migongo ya wapumbavu!
4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
Usimjibu mpumbavu sawasawa na upumbavu wake, ama wewe mwenyewe utakuwa kama yeye.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.
Mjibu mpumbavu sawasawa na upumbavu wake, ama atakuwa mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe.
6 He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
Kama vile ilivyo kujikata miguu au kunywa hasara, ndivyo ilivyo kutuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu.
7 Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
Kama miguu ya kiwete inavyoningʼinia ndivyo ilivyo mithali katika kinywa cha mpumbavu.
8 As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
Kama kufunga jiwe kwenye kombeo, ndivyo ilivyo kumpa mpumbavu heshima.
9 A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
Kama mwiba kwenye mkono wa mlevi ndivyo ilivyo mithali kinywani mwa mpumbavu.
10 Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
Kama mpiga upinde ambaye hujeruhi ovyo, ndivyo alivyo yeye aajiriye mpumbavu au yeyote apitaye njiani.
11 As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
Kama mbwa ayarudiavyo matapiko yake, ndivyo mpumbavu arudiavyo upumbavu wake.
12 Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
Je, unamwona mtu ajionaye mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe? Liko tumaini zaidi kwa mpumbavu kuliko kwake.
13 The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba barabarani, simba mkali anazunguka mitaa!”
14 The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
Kama vile mlango ugeukavyo kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo mvivu ajigeuzavyo kitandani mwake.
15 The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
Mtu mvivu hutumbukiza mkono wake kwenye sahani, naye huchoka kuupeleka kwenye kinywa chake.
16 Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe, kuliko watu saba wawezao kujibu kwa busara.
17 Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
Kama yeye amkamataye mbwa kwa masikio, ndivyo alivyo mtu apitaye njiani na kujiingiza kwenye ugomvi usiomhusu.
18 As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
Kama mtu mwendawazimu atupaye vijinga vya moto au mishale ya kufisha,
19 So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
ndivyo alivyo mtu amdanganyaye jirani yake na kusema, “Nilikuwa nikifanya mzaha tu!”
20 Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
Bila kuni moto huzimika; pasipo uchongezi ugomvi humalizika.
21 Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
Kama makaa juu ya makaa yanayowaka, na kama kuni kwenye moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuchochea ugomvi.
22 The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu; huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.
23 Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
Kama rangi ingʼaayo iliyopakwa kwenye vyombo vya udongo ndivyo ilivyo midomo laini pamoja na moyo mbaya.
24 By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
Mtu mwenye nia ya kudhuru wengine hujificha kwa maneno ya midomo yake, lakini moyoni mwake huficha udanganyifu.
25 When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
Ingawa maneno yake huvutia, usimwamini, kwa maana machukizo saba hujaza moyo wake.
26 Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
Nia yake ya kudhuru wengine inaweza kufichwa na udanganyifu, lakini uovu wake utafichuliwa kwenye kusanyiko.
27 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
Kama mtu akichimba shimo, atatumbukia ndani yake, kama mtu akivingirisha jiwe, litamrudia.
28 A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
Ulimi wa uongo, huwachukia wale unaowaumiza, nacho kinywa cha kujipendekeza hutenda uharibifu.
