< Mithali 25 >

1 Hizi ni mithali zaidi za Solomoni, zilizonakiliwa na watu wa Hezekia mfalme wa Yuda:
Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: —
2 Ni Utukufu wa Mungu kuficha jambo, bali ni utukufu wa wafalme kuchunguza jambo.
The honour of God [is] to hide a thing, And the honour of kings to search out a matter.
3 Kama mbingu zilivyo juu na nchi ilivyo chini, ndivyo ambavyo mioyo ya wafalme haichunguziki.
The heavens for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings — [are] unsearchable.
4 Ondoa takataka kwenye madini ya fedha, nako ndani yake kutatokea chombo cha mfua fedha.
Take away dross from silver, And a vessel for the refiner goeth forth,
5 Ondoa waovu mbele ya mfalme, nacho kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa kwa njia ya haki.
Take away the wicked before a king, And established in righteousness is his throne.
6 Usijikweze mwenyewe mbele ya mfalme, wala usidai nafasi miongoni mwa watu wakuu;
Honour not thyself before a king, And in the place of the great stand not.
7 ni afadhali yeye akuambie, “Njoo huku juu,” kuliko yeye kukuaibisha mbele ya mkuu. Kile ulichokiona kwa macho yako
For better [that] he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than [that] he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.
8 usiharakishe kukipeleka mahakamani, maana utafanya nini mwishoni kama jirani yako atakuaibisha?
Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?
9 Kama ukifanya shauri na jirani yako, usisaliti siri ya mtu mwingine,
Thy cause plead with thy neighbour, And the secret counsel of another reveal not,
10 ama yeye aisikiaye aweza kukuaibisha na kamwe sifa yako mbaya haitaondoka.
Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.
11 Neno lisemwalo kwa wakati ufaao ni kama matunda ya mtofaa ya dhahabu yaliyowekwa kwenye vijalizo vya fedha.
Apples of gold in imagery of silver, [Is] the word spoken at its fit times.
12 Kama vile kipuli cha dhahabu au pambo la dhahabu safi, ndivyo lilivyo karipio la mtu mwenye hekima kwa sikio lisikilizalo.
A ring of gold, and an ornament of pure gold, [Is] the wise reprover to an attentive ear.
13 Kama vile ubaridi wa theluji wakati wa mavuno ndivyo alivyo mjumbe mwaminifu kwa wale wamtumao, huburudisha roho za bwana zake.
As a vessel of snow in a day of harvest, [So is] a faithful ambassador to those sending him, And the soul of his masters he refresheth.
14 Kama vile mawingu na upepo pasipo mvua ndivyo alivyo mtu ajisifuye kwa zawadi ambazo hatoi.
Clouds and wind, and rain there is none, [Is] a man boasting himself in a false gift.
15 Kwa njia ya uvumilivu mtawala aweza kushawishiwa, nao ulimi laini waweza kuvunja mfupa.
By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.
16 Ukipata asali, kula kiasi tu cha kukutosha, ukila zaidi, utatapika.
Honey thou hast found — eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated [with] it, and hast vomited it.
17 Ingiza mguu wako nyumbani kwa jirani yako mara chache, ukizidisha, atakukinai na atakuchukia.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated [with] thee, and have hated thee.
18 Kama vile rungu au upanga au mshale mkali ndivyo alivyo mtu atoaye ushuhuda wa uongo dhidi ya jirani yake.
A maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow, [Is] the man testifying against his neighbour a false testimony.
19 Kama vile jino bovu au mguu uliolemaa, ndivyo ilivyo kumtegemea mtu asiye mwaminifu wakati wa shida.
A bad tooth, and a tottering foot, [Is] the confidence of the treacherous in a day of adversity.
20 Kama vile avuaye mavazi siku ya baridi, au kama siki iliyomwagwa juu ya magadi, ndivyo alivyo yeye amuimbiaye nyimbo mtu mwenye moyo mzito.
Whoso is taking away a garment in a cold day, [Is as] vinegar on nitre, And a singer of songs on a sad heart.
21 Kama adui yako ana njaa, mpe chakula ale; kama ana kiu, mpe maji anywe.
If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.
22 Kwa kufanya hivyo, unaweka makaa ya moto yanayowaka kichwani pake, naye Bwana atakupa thawabu.
For coals thou art putting on his head, And Jehovah giveth recompense to thee.
23 Kama vile upepo wa kaskazini uletavyo mvua, ndivyo ulimi usingiziao uletavyo uso wa hasira.
A north wind bringeth forth rain, And a secret tongue — indignant faces.
24 Ni afadhali kuishi pembeni mwa paa la nyumba, kuliko kuishi nyumba moja na mke mgomvi.
Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than [with] a woman of contentions, and a house of company.
25 Kama vile maji baridi kwa nafsi iliyochoka ndivyo zilivyo habari njema kutoka nchi ya mbali.
[As] cold waters for a weary soul, So [is] a good report from a far country.
26 Kama vile chemchemi iliyotibuliwa matope au kisima kilichotiwa taka ndivyo alivyo mtu mwenye haki akishiriki na waovu.
A spring troubled, and a fountain corrupt, [Is] the righteous falling before the wicked.
27 Si vyema kula asali nyingi sana, wala si heshima kujitafutia heshima yako mwenyewe.
The eating of much honey is not good, Nor a searching out of one's own honour — honour.
28 Kama vile mji ambao kuta zake zimebomoka ndivyo alivyo mtu ambaye hawezi kujitawala mwenyewe.
A city broken down without walls, [Is] a man without restraint over his spirit!

< Mithali 25 >