Mithali 25
1 Hizi ni mithali zaidi za Solomoni, zilizonakiliwa na watu wa Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda:
THESE ARE ALSO PARABLES of Salomon, which the men of Hezekiah King of Iudah copied out.
2 Ni Utukufu wa Mungu kuficha jambo, bali ni utukufu wa wafalme kuchunguza jambo.
The glorie of God is to conceale a thing secret: but the Kings honour is to search out a thing.
3 Kama mbingu zilivyo juu na nchi ilivyo chini, ndivyo ambavyo mioyo ya wafalme haichunguziki.
The heaues in height, and the earth in deepenes, and the Kings heart can no man search out.
4 Ondoa takataka kwenye madini ya fedha, nako ndani yake kutatokea chombo cha mfua fedha.
Take the drosse from the siluer, and there shall proceede a vessell for the finer.
5 Ondoa waovu mbele ya mfalme, nacho kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa kwa njia ya haki.
Take away the wicked from the King, and his throne shall be stablished in righteousnes.
6 Usijikweze mwenyewe mbele ya mfalme, wala usidai nafasi miongoni mwa watu wakuu;
Boast not thy selfe before the King, and stand not in the place of great men.
7 ni afadhali yeye akuambie, “Njoo huku juu,” kuliko yeye kukuaibisha mbele ya mkuu. Kile ulichokiona kwa macho yako
For it is better, that it be saide vnto thee, Come vp hither, then thou to be put lower in the presece of the prince whom thine eyes haue seene.
8 usiharakishe kukipeleka mahakamani, maana utafanya nini mwishoni kama jirani yako atakuaibisha?
Goe not foorth hastily to strife, least thou know not what to doe in the ende thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Kama ukifanya shauri na jirani yako, usisaliti siri ya mtu mwingine,
Debate thy matter with thy neighbour, and discouer not the secret to another,
10 ama yeye aisikiaye aweza kukuaibisha na kamwe sifa yako mbaya haitaondoka.
Least he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamie doe not cease.
11 Neno lisemwalo kwa wakati ufaao ni kama matunda ya mtofaa ya dhahabu yaliyowekwa kwenye vijalizo vya fedha.
A word spoken in his place, is like apples of golde with pictures of siluer.
12 Kama vile kipuli cha dhahabu au pambo la dhahabu safi, ndivyo lilivyo karipio la mtu mwenye hekima kwa sikio lisikilizalo.
He that reprooueth the wise, and the obedient eare, is as a golden earering and an ornament of fine golde.
13 Kama vile ubaridi wa theluji wakati wa mavuno ndivyo alivyo mjumbe mwaminifu kwa wale wamtumao, huburudisha roho za bwana zake.
As the colde of the snowe in the time of haruest, so is a faithfull messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soule of his masters.
14 Kama vile mawingu na upepo pasipo mvua ndivyo alivyo mtu ajisifuye kwa zawadi ambazo hatoi.
A man that boasteth of false liberalitie, is like cloudes and winde without raine.
15 Kwa njia ya uvumilivu mtawala aweza kushawishiwa, nao ulimi laini waweza kuvunja mfupa.
A Prince is pacified by staying of anger, and a soft tongue breaketh the bones.
16 Ukipata asali, kula kiasi tu cha kukutosha, ukila zaidi, utatapika.
If thou haue found hony, eate that is sufficient for thee, least thou be ouerfull, and vomit it.
17 Ingiza mguu wako nyumbani kwa jirani yako mara chache, ukizidisha, atakukinai na atakuchukia.
Withdrawe thy foote from thy neighbours house, least he be weary of thee, and hate thee.
18 Kama vile rungu au upanga au mshale mkali ndivyo alivyo mtu atoaye ushuhuda wa uongo dhidi ya jirani yake.
A man that beareth false witnes against his neighbour, is like an hammer and a sword, and a sharpe arrowe.
19 Kama vile jino bovu au mguu uliolemaa, ndivyo ilivyo kumtegemea mtu asiye mwaminifu wakati wa shida.
Confidence in an vnfaythfull man in time of trouble, is like a broken tooth and a sliding foote.
20 Kama vile avuaye mavazi siku ya baridi, au kama siki iliyomwagwa juu ya magadi, ndivyo alivyo yeye amuimbiaye nyimbo mtu mwenye moyo mzito.
Hee that taketh away the garment in the colde season, is like vineger powred vpon nitre, or like him that singeth songs to an heauy heart.
21 Kama adui yako ana njaa, mpe chakula ale; kama ana kiu, mpe maji anywe.
If hee that hateth thee be hungry, giue him bread to eate, and if he be thirstie, giue him water to drinke.
22 Kwa kufanya hivyo, unaweka makaa ya moto yanayowaka kichwani pake, naye Bwana atakupa thawabu.
For thou shalt lay coles vpon his head, and the Lord shall recompense thee.
23 Kama vile upepo wa kaskazini uletavyo mvua, ndivyo ulimi usingiziao uletavyo uso wa hasira.
As the Northwinde driueth away the raine, so doeth an angry countenance the slandering tongue.
24 Ni afadhali kuishi pembeni mwa paa la nyumba, kuliko kuishi nyumba moja na mke mgomvi.
It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25 Kama vile maji baridi kwa nafsi iliyochoka ndivyo zilivyo habari njema kutoka nchi ya mbali.
As are the colde waters to a weary soule, so is good newes from a farre countery.
26 Kama vile chemchemi iliyotibuliwa matope au kisima kilichotiwa taka ndivyo alivyo mtu mwenye haki akishiriki na waovu.
A righteous man falling downe before the wicked, is like a troubled well, and a corrupt spring.
27 Si vyema kula asali nyingi sana, wala si heshima kujitafutia heshima yako mwenyewe.
It is not good to eate much hony: so to search their owne glory is not glory.
28 Kama vile mji ambao kuta zake zimebomoka ndivyo alivyo mtu ambaye hawezi kujitawala mwenyewe.
A man that refraineth not his appetite, is like a citie which is broken downe and without walles.
