Mithali 26
1 Kama theluji wakati wa kiangazi au mvua wakati wa mavuno, ndivyo asivyostahili heshima mpumbavu.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 Kama shomoro apigapigavyo mabawa yake au mbayuwayu katika kuruka kwake kasi, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyo na sababu haimpati mtu.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Mjeledi kwa farasi, lijamu kwa punda, nayo fimbo kwa migongo ya wapumbavu!
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Usimjibu mpumbavu sawasawa na upumbavu wake, ama wewe mwenyewe utakuwa kama yeye.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Mjibu mpumbavu sawasawa na upumbavu wake, ama atakuwa mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Kama vile ilivyo kujikata miguu au kunywa hasara, ndivyo ilivyo kutuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Kama miguu ya kiwete inavyoningʼinia ndivyo ilivyo mithali katika kinywa cha mpumbavu.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Kama kufunga jiwe kwenye kombeo, ndivyo ilivyo kumpa mpumbavu heshima.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Kama mwiba kwenye mkono wa mlevi ndivyo ilivyo mithali kinywani mwa mpumbavu.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Kama mpiga upinde ambaye hujeruhi ovyo, ndivyo alivyo yeye aajiriye mpumbavu au yeyote apitaye njiani.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 Kama mbwa ayarudiavyo matapiko yake, ndivyo mpumbavu arudiavyo upumbavu wake.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Je, unamwona mtu ajionaye mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe? Liko tumaini zaidi kwa mpumbavu kuliko kwake.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba barabarani, simba mkali anazunguka mitaa!”
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 Kama vile mlango ugeukavyo kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo mvivu ajigeuzavyo kitandani mwake.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutumbukiza mkono wake kwenye sahani, naye huchoka kuupeleka kwenye kinywa chake.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe, kuliko watu saba wawezao kujibu kwa busara.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Kama yeye amkamataye mbwa kwa masikio, ndivyo alivyo mtu apitaye njiani na kujiingiza kwenye ugomvi usiomhusu.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu atupaye vijinga vya moto au mishale ya kufisha,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 ndivyo alivyo mtu amdanganyaye jirani yake na kusema, “Nilikuwa nikifanya mzaha tu!”
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Bila kuni moto huzimika; pasipo uchongezi ugomvi humalizika.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Kama makaa juu ya makaa yanayowaka, na kama kuni kwenye moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuchochea ugomvi.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu; huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Kama rangi ingʼaayo iliyopakwa kwenye vyombo vya udongo ndivyo ilivyo midomo laini pamoja na moyo mbaya.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 Mtu mwenye nia ya kudhuru wengine hujificha kwa maneno ya midomo yake, lakini moyoni mwake huficha udanganyifu.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Ingawa maneno yake huvutia, usimwamini, kwa maana machukizo saba hujaza moyo wake.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Nia yake ya kudhuru wengine inaweza kufichwa na udanganyifu, lakini uovu wake utafichuliwa kwenye kusanyiko.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Kama mtu akichimba shimo, atatumbukia ndani yake, kama mtu akivingirisha jiwe, litamrudia.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 Ulimi wa uongo, huwachukia wale unaowaumiza, nacho kinywa cha kujipendekeza hutenda uharibifu.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
