Mithali 26
1 Kama theluji wakati wa kiangazi au mvua wakati wa mavuno, ndivyo asivyostahili heshima mpumbavu.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest; so honor is not seemly for a fool.
2 Kama shomoro apigapigavyo mabawa yake au mbayuwayu katika kuruka kwake kasi, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyo na sababu haimpati mtu.
As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
3 Mjeledi kwa farasi, lijamu kwa punda, nayo fimbo kwa migongo ya wapumbavu!
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.
4 Usimjibu mpumbavu sawasawa na upumbavu wake, ama wewe mwenyewe utakuwa kama yeye.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also 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 be wise in his own conceit.
6 Kama vile ilivyo kujikata miguu au kunywa hasara, ndivyo ilivyo kutuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 Kama miguu ya kiwete inavyoningʼinia ndivyo ilivyo mithali katika kinywa cha mpumbavu.
The legs of the lame are not equal: so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Kama kufunga jiwe kwenye kombeo, ndivyo ilivyo kumpa mpumbavu heshima.
As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so [is] he that giveth honor to a fool.
9 Kama mwiba kwenye mkono wa mlevi ndivyo ilivyo mithali kinywani mwa mpumbavu.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Kama mpiga upinde ambaye hujeruhi ovyo, ndivyo alivyo yeye aajiriye mpumbavu au yeyote apitaye njiani.
The great [God] that formed all [things] both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
11 Kama mbwa ayarudiavyo matapiko yake, ndivyo mpumbavu arudiavyo upumbavu wake.
As a dog returneth to his vomit, [so] a fool returneth to his folly.
12 Je, unamwona mtu ajionaye mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe? Liko tumaini zaidi kwa mpumbavu kuliko kwake.
Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? [there is] more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba barabarani, simba mkali anazunguka mitaa!”
The slothful [man] saith, [There is] a lion in the way; a lion [is] in the streets.
14 Kama vile mlango ugeukavyo kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo mvivu ajigeuzavyo kitandani mwake.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so [doth] the slothful upon his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutumbukiza mkono wake kwenye sahani, naye huchoka kuupeleka kwenye kinywa chake.
The slothful hideth [his] hand in [his] bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe, kuliko watu saba wawezao kujibu kwa busara.
The sluggard [is] wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
17 Kama yeye amkamataye mbwa kwa masikio, ndivyo alivyo mtu apitaye njiani na kujiingiza kwenye ugomvi usiomhusu.
He that passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu atupaye vijinga vya moto au mishale ya kufisha,
As a mad [man] who casteth fire-brands, arrows, and death,
19 ndivyo alivyo mtu amdanganyaye jirani yake na kusema, “Nilikuwa nikifanya mzaha tu!”
So [is] the man [that] deceiveth his neighbor, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 Bila kuni moto huzimika; pasipo uchongezi ugomvi humalizika.
Where no wood is, [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 Kama makaa juu ya makaa yanayowaka, na kama kuni kwenye moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuchochea ugomvi.
[As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife.
22 Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu; huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Kama rangi ingʼaayo iliyopakwa kwenye vyombo vya udongo ndivyo ilivyo midomo laini pamoja na moyo mbaya.
Burning lips and a wicked heart [are like] a potsherd covered with silver dross.
24 Mtu mwenye nia ya kudhuru wengine hujificha kwa maneno ya midomo yake, lakini moyoni mwake huficha udanganyifu.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
25 Ingawa maneno yake huvutia, usimwamini, kwa maana machukizo saba hujaza moyo wake.
When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for [there are] seven abominations in his heart.
26 Nia yake ya kudhuru wengine inaweza kufichwa na udanganyifu, lakini uovu wake utafichuliwa kwenye kusanyiko.
[Whose] hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shown before the [whole] congregation.
27 Kama mtu akichimba shimo, atatumbukia ndani yake, kama mtu akivingirisha jiwe, litamrudia.
Whoever diggeth a pit shall fall into it: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
28 Ulimi wa uongo, huwachukia wale unaowaumiza, nacho kinywa cha kujipendekeza hutenda uharibifu.
A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
