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 honour [is] not comely for a fool.
2 Kama shomoro apigapigavyo mabawa yake au mbayuwayu katika kuruka kwake kasi, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyo na sababu haimpati mtu.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
3 Mjeledi kwa farasi, lijamu kwa punda, nayo fimbo kwa migongo ya wapumbavu!
A whip is for a horse, a bridle for an ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
4 Usimjibu mpumbavu sawasawa na upumbavu wake, ama wewe mwenyewe utakuwa kama yeye.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him — even thou.
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.
He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 Kama miguu ya kiwete inavyoningʼinia ndivyo ilivyo mithali katika kinywa cha mpumbavu.
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Kama kufunga jiwe kwenye kombeo, ndivyo ilivyo kumpa mpumbavu heshima.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9 Kama mwiba kwenye mkono wa mlevi ndivyo ilivyo mithali kinywani mwa mpumbavu.
A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Kama mpiga upinde ambaye hujeruhi ovyo, ndivyo alivyo yeye aajiriye mpumbavu au yeyote apitaye njiani.
Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 Kama mbwa ayarudiavyo matapiko yake, ndivyo mpumbavu arudiavyo upumbavu wake.
As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 Je, unamwona mtu ajionaye mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe? Liko tumaini zaidi kwa mpumbavu kuliko kwake.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba barabarani, simba mkali anazunguka mitaa!”
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 Kama vile mlango ugeukavyo kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo mvivu ajigeuzavyo kitandani mwake.
The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutumbukiza mkono wake kwenye sahani, naye huchoka kuupeleka kwenye kinywa chake.
The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe, kuliko watu saba wawezao kujibu kwa busara.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 Kama yeye amkamataye mbwa kwa masikio, ndivyo alivyo mtu apitaye njiani na kujiingiza kwenye ugomvi usiomhusu.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu atupaye vijinga vya moto au mishale ya kufisha,
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 ndivyo alivyo mtu amdanganyaye jirani yake na kusema, “Nilikuwa nikifanya mzaha tu!”
So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 Bila kuni moto huzimika; pasipo uchongezi ugomvi humalizika.
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 Kama makaa juu ya makaa yanayowaka, na kama kuni kwenye moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuchochea ugomvi.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions 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 self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Kama rangi ingʼaayo iliyopakwa kwenye vyombo vya udongo ndivyo ilivyo midomo laini pamoja na moyo mbaya.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [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.
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 Ingawa maneno yake huvutia, usimwamini, kwa maana machukizo saba hujaza moyo wake.
When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Nia yake ya kudhuru wengine inaweza kufichwa na udanganyifu, lakini uovu wake utafichuliwa kwenye kusanyiko.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 Kama mtu akichimba shimo, atatumbukia ndani yake, kama mtu akivingirisha jiwe, litamrudia.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 Ulimi wa uongo, huwachukia wale unaowaumiza, nacho kinywa cha kujipendekeza hutenda uharibifu.
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
