Mithali 26
1 Kama theluji wakati wa kiangazi au mvua wakati wa mavuno, ndivyo asivyostahili heshima mpumbavu.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not fitting for 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, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
3 Mjeledi kwa farasi, lijamu kwa punda, nayo fimbo kwa migongo ya wapumbavu!
A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Usimjibu mpumbavu sawasawa na upumbavu wake, ama wewe mwenyewe utakuwa kama yeye.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you 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 eyes.
6 Kama vile ilivyo kujikata miguu au kunywa hasara, ndivyo ilivyo kutuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7 Kama miguu ya kiwete inavyoningʼinia ndivyo ilivyo mithali katika kinywa cha mpumbavu.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Kama kufunga jiwe kwenye kombeo, ndivyo ilivyo kumpa mpumbavu heshima.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honour to a fool.
9 Kama mwiba kwenye mkono wa mlevi ndivyo ilivyo mithali kinywani mwa mpumbavu.
Like a thorn bush that goes 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.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 Kama mbwa ayarudiavyo matapiko yake, ndivyo mpumbavu arudiavyo upumbavu wake.
As a dog that returns to his 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 a man 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 sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 Kama vile mlango ugeukavyo kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo mvivu ajigeuzavyo kitandani mwake.
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutumbukiza mkono wake kwenye sahani, naye huchoka kuupeleka kwenye kinywa chake.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back 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 eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
17 Kama yeye amkamataye mbwa kwa masikio, ndivyo alivyo mtu apitaye njiani na kujiingiza kwenye ugomvi usiomhusu.
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu atupaye vijinga vya moto au mishale ya kufisha,
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 ndivyo alivyo mtu amdanganyaye jirani yake na kusema, “Nilikuwa nikifanya mzaha tu!”
is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 Bila kuni moto huzimika; pasipo uchongezi ugomvi humalizika.
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 Kama makaa juu ya makaa yanayowaka, na kama kuni kwenye moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuchochea ugomvi.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu; huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Kama rangi ingʼaayo iliyopakwa kwenye vyombo vya udongo ndivyo ilivyo midomo laini pamoja na moyo mbaya.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 Mtu mwenye nia ya kudhuru wengine hujificha kwa maneno ya midomo yake, lakini moyoni mwake huficha udanganyifu.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbours evil in his heart.
25 Ingawa maneno yake huvutia, usimwamini, kwa maana machukizo saba hujaza moyo wake.
When his speech is charming, don’t 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.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but 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 shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 Ulimi wa uongo, huwachukia wale unaowaumiza, nacho kinywa cha kujipendekeza hutenda uharibifu.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
