Mithali 26
1 Kama theluji wakati wa kiangazi au mvua wakati wa mavuno, ndivyo asivyostahili heshima mpumbavu.
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
2 Kama shomoro apigapigavyo mabawa yake au mbayuwayu katika kuruka kwake kasi, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyo na sababu haimpati mtu.
As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
3 Mjeledi kwa farasi, lijamu kwa punda, nayo fimbo kwa migongo ya wapumbavu!
A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back 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 will become like him.
5 Mjibu mpumbavu sawasawa na upumbavu wake, ama atakuwa mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe.
Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
6 Kama vile ilivyo kujikata miguu au kunywa hasara, ndivyo ilivyo kutuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Kama miguu ya kiwete inavyoningʼinia ndivyo ilivyo mithali katika kinywa cha mpumbavu.
Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Kama kufunga jiwe kwenye kombeo, ndivyo ilivyo kumpa mpumbavu heshima.
Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.
9 Kama mwiba kwenye mkono wa mlevi ndivyo ilivyo mithali kinywani mwa mpumbavu.
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Kama mpiga upinde ambaye hujeruhi ovyo, ndivyo alivyo yeye aajiriye mpumbavu au yeyote apitaye njiani.
Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
11 Kama mbwa ayarudiavyo matapiko yake, ndivyo mpumbavu arudiavyo upumbavu wake.
As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Je, unamwona mtu ajionaye mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe? Liko tumaini zaidi kwa mpumbavu kuliko kwake.
Do you see someone 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 lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
14 Kama vile mlango ugeukavyo kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo mvivu ajigeuzavyo kitandani mwake.
As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutumbukiza mkono wake kwenye sahani, naye huchoka kuupeleka kwenye kinywa chake.
The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.
16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe, kuliko watu saba wawezao kujibu kwa busara.
The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
17 Kama yeye amkamataye mbwa kwa masikio, ndivyo alivyo mtu apitaye njiani na kujiingiza kwenye ugomvi usiomhusu.
Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu atupaye vijinga vya moto au mishale ya kufisha,
Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
19 ndivyo alivyo mtu amdanganyaye jirani yake na kusema, “Nilikuwa nikifanya mzaha tu!”
is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
20 Bila kuni moto huzimika; pasipo uchongezi ugomvi humalizika.
For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
21 Kama makaa juu ya makaa yanayowaka, na kama kuni kwenye moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuchochea ugomvi.
As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person 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 delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Kama rangi ingʼaayo iliyopakwa kwenye vyombo vya udongo ndivyo ilivyo midomo laini pamoja na moyo mbaya.
Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Mtu mwenye nia ya kudhuru wengine hujificha kwa maneno ya midomo yake, lakini moyoni mwake huficha udanganyifu.
One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
25 Ingawa maneno yake huvutia, usimwamini, kwa maana machukizo saba hujaza moyo wake.
He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Nia yake ya kudhuru wengine inaweza kufichwa na udanganyifu, lakini uovu wake utafichuliwa kwenye kusanyiko.
Though his hatred is covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Kama mtu akichimba shimo, atatumbukia ndani yake, kama mtu akivingirisha jiwe, litamrudia.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
28 Ulimi wa uongo, huwachukia wale unaowaumiza, nacho kinywa cha kujipendekeza hutenda uharibifu.
A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
