Mithali 25
1 Hizi ni mithali zaidi za Solomoni, zilizonakiliwa na watu wa Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda:
These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 Ni Utukufu wa Mungu kuficha jambo, bali ni utukufu wa wafalme kuchunguza jambo.
God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3 Kama mbingu zilivyo juu na nchi ilivyo chini, ndivyo ambavyo mioyo ya wafalme haichunguziki.
Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
4 Ondoa takataka kwenye madini ya fedha, nako ndani yake kutatokea chombo cha mfua fedha.
Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5 Ondoa waovu mbele ya mfalme, nacho kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa kwa njia ya haki.
Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6 Usijikweze mwenyewe mbele ya mfalme, wala usidai nafasi miongoni mwa watu wakuu;
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
7 ni afadhali yeye akuambie, “Njoo huku juu,” kuliko yeye kukuaibisha mbele ya mkuu. Kile ulichokiona kwa macho yako
for it's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
8 usiharakishe kukipeleka mahakamani, maana utafanya nini mwishoni kama jirani yako atakuaibisha?
don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
9 Kama ukifanya shauri na jirani yako, usisaliti siri ya mtu mwingine,
Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
10 ama yeye aisikiaye aweza kukuaibisha na kamwe sifa yako mbaya haitaondoka.
otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11 Neno lisemwalo kwa wakati ufaao ni kama matunda ya mtofaa ya dhahabu yaliyowekwa kwenye vijalizo vya fedha.
Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12 Kama vile kipuli cha dhahabu au pambo la dhahabu safi, ndivyo lilivyo karipio la mtu mwenye hekima kwa sikio lisikilizalo.
Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
13 Kama vile ubaridi wa theluji wakati wa mavuno ndivyo alivyo mjumbe mwaminifu kwa wale wamtumao, huburudisha roho za bwana zake.
Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14 Kama vile mawingu na upepo pasipo mvua ndivyo alivyo mtu ajisifuye kwa zawadi ambazo hatoi.
Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15 Kwa njia ya uvumilivu mtawala aweza kushawishiwa, nao ulimi laini waweza kuvunja mfupa.
If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
16 Ukipata asali, kula kiasi tu cha kukutosha, ukila zaidi, utatapika.
If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17 Ingiza mguu wako nyumbani kwa jirani yako mara chache, ukizidisha, atakukinai na atakuchukia.
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 Kama vile rungu au upanga au mshale mkali ndivyo alivyo mtu atoaye ushuhuda wa uongo dhidi ya jirani yake.
Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
19 Kama vile jino bovu au mguu uliolemaa, ndivyo ilivyo kumtegemea mtu asiye mwaminifu wakati wa shida.
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
20 Kama vile avuaye mavazi siku ya baridi, au kama siki iliyomwagwa juu ya magadi, ndivyo alivyo yeye amuimbiaye nyimbo mtu mwenye moyo mzito.
Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.
21 Kama adui yako ana njaa, mpe chakula ale; kama ana kiu, mpe maji anywe.
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22 Kwa kufanya hivyo, unaweka makaa ya moto yanayowaka kichwani pake, naye Bwana atakupa thawabu.
This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 Kama vile upepo wa kaskazini uletavyo mvua, ndivyo ulimi usingiziao uletavyo uso wa hasira.
In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
24 Ni afadhali kuishi pembeni mwa paa la nyumba, kuliko kuishi nyumba moja na mke mgomvi.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25 Kama vile maji baridi kwa nafsi iliyochoka ndivyo zilivyo habari njema kutoka nchi ya mbali.
Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
26 Kama vile chemchemi iliyotibuliwa matope au kisima kilichotiwa taka ndivyo alivyo mtu mwenye haki akishiriki na waovu.
Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27 Si vyema kula asali nyingi sana, wala si heshima kujitafutia heshima yako mwenyewe.
It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
28 Kama vile mji ambao kuta zake zimebomoka ndivyo alivyo mtu ambaye hawezi kujitawala mwenyewe.
Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
