Mithali 27
1 Usijisifu kwa ajili ya kesho, kwa kuwa hujui ni nini kitakachozaliwa kwa siku moja.
Boast not of to-morrow; for you know not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Mwache mwingine akusifu, wala si kinywa chako mwenyewe; mtu mwingine afanye hivyo na si midomo yako mwenyewe.
Let your neighbour, and not your own mouth, praise you; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Jiwe ni zito na mchanga ni mzigo, lakini kukasirishwa na mpumbavu ni kuzito kuliko vyote viwili.
A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Hasira ni ukatili na ghadhabu kali ni gharika, lakini ni nani awezaye kusimama mbele ya wivu?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Afadhali karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichika.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 Majeraha kutoka kwa rafiki yaonyesha uaminifu, bali kubusu kwa adui ni kwingi sana.
The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy.
7 Yeye aliyeshiba huchukia kabisa asali, bali kwa mwenye njaa hata kile kilicho kichungu kwake ni kitamu.
A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 Kama ndege atangatangavyo mbali na kiota chake, ndivyo alivyo mtu atangatangaye mbali na nyumbani mwake.
As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place.
9 Manukato na uvumba huleta furaha moyoni, nao uzuri wa rafiki huchipuka kutoka kwenye ushauri wake wa uaminifu.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
10 Usimwache rafiki yako wala rafiki wa baba yako, tena usiende nyumbani mwa ndugu yako wakati umepatwa na maafa. Bora jirani wa karibu kuliko ndugu aliye mbali.
Your own friend, and your father's friend, forsake not; and when you are in distress go not into your brother's house: better is a friend [that is] near than a brother living far off.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na hekima, nawe ulete furaha moyoni mwangu, ndipo nitakapoweza kumjibu yeyote anitendaye kwa dharau.
Son, be wise, that your heart may rejoice; and remove you from yourself reproachful words.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele nayo ikamtesa.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 Chukua vazi la yule awekaye dhamana kwa ajili ya mgeni; lishikilie iwe dhamana kama anafanya hivyo kwa ajili ya mwanamke mpotovu.
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 Kama mtu akimbariki jirani yake kwa sauti kuu asubuhi na mapema, itahesabiwa kama ni laana.
Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama matone yasiyokoma ya siku ya mvua.
On a stormy day drops [of rain] drive a man out of his house; so also does a railing woman [drive a man] out of his own house.
16 Kumzuia yeye ni kama kuuzuia upepo au kukamata mafuta kwa kiganja cha mkono.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Kama vile chuma kinoavyo chuma, ndivyo mtu amnoavyo mwenzake.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 Yeye autunzaye mtini atakula tunda lake, naye amtunzaye bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
He that plants a fig tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured.
19 Kama uso uonekanavyo kwenye maji, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwonyesha alivyo.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
Hell and destruction are not filled; so also are the eyes of men insatiable. [He that fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongue.] (Sheol h7585)
21 Kalibu ni kwa ajili ya fedha na tanuru kwa ajili ya dhahabu, bali mtu hupimwa kwa sifa azipokeazo.
Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. The heart of the transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge.
22 Hata ukimtwanga mpumbavu kwenye kinu, ukimtwanga kama nafaka kwa mchi, hutauondoa upumbavu wake.
Though you scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, you will [still] in no wise remove his folly from him.
23 Hakikisha kuwa unajua hali ya makundi yako ya kondoo na mbuzi, angalia kwa bidii ngʼombe zako.
Do you thoroughly know the number of your flock, and pay attention to your herds.
24 Kwa kuwa utajiri haudumu milele, nayo taji haidumu vizazi vyote.
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 Wakati majani makavu yameondolewa na mapya yamechipua, nayo majani toka milimani yamekusanywa,
Take care of the herbage in the field, and you shall cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 wana-kondoo watakupatia mavazi na mbuzi thamani ya shamba.
that you may have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that you may have lambs.
27 Utakuwa na maziwa mengi ya mbuzi kukulisha wewe na jamaa yako, na kuwalisha watumishi wako wa kike.
[My] son, you have from me words very useful for your life, and for the life of your servants.
