Mithali 27
1 Usijisifu kwa ajili ya kesho, kwa kuwa hujui ni nini kitakachozaliwa kwa siku moja.
Boast not thyself of to-morrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth!
2 Mwache mwingine akusifu, wala si kinywa chako mwenyewe; mtu mwingine afanye hivyo na si midomo yako mwenyewe.
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine 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 is weighty; 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 cruel, and anger overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Afadhali karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichika.
Better is open rebuke Than love kept concealed.
6 Majeraha kutoka kwa rafiki yaonyesha uaminifu, bali kubusu kwa adui ni kwingi sana.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 Yeye aliyeshiba huchukia kabisa asali, bali kwa mwenye njaa hata kile kilicho kichungu kwake ni kitamu.
He who is fed to the full loatheth the honeycomb; But to the hungry any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Kama ndege atangatangavyo mbali na kiota chake, ndivyo alivyo mtu atangatangaye mbali na nyumbani mwake.
As a bird that wandereth from its nest, So is a man who wandereth from his place.
9 Manukato na uvumba huleta furaha moyoni, nao uzuri wa rafiki huchipuka kutoka kwenye ushauri wake wa uaminifu.
Oil and perfume gladden the heart; Sweet also is one's friend by hearty counsel.
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.
Thine own friend and thy father's friend forsake not; And go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity. Better is a neighbor that is near, than a brother far off.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na hekima, nawe ulete furaha moyoni mwangu, ndipo nitakapoweza kumjibu yeyote anitendaye kwa dharau.
Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, That I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele nayo ikamtesa.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; The simple pass on, and are punished.
13 Chukua vazi la yule awekaye dhamana kwa ajili ya mgeni; lishikilie iwe dhamana kama anafanya hivyo kwa ajili ya mwanamke mpotovu.
Take his garment who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
14 Kama mtu akimbariki jirani yake kwa sauti kuu asubuhi na mapema, itahesabiwa kama ni laana.
He who blesseth his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early for it, It shall be accounted to him as a curse.
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama matone yasiyokoma ya siku ya mvua.
A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a quarrelsome wife are alike.
16 Kumzuia yeye ni kama kuuzuia upepo au kukamata mafuta kwa kiganja cha mkono.
He who restraineth her restraineth the wind; And his right hand layeth hold of oil.
17 Kama vile chuma kinoavyo chuma, ndivyo mtu amnoavyo mwenzake.
Iron sharpeneth iron; So one man sharpeneth the face of another.
18 Yeye autunzaye mtini atakula tunda lake, naye amtunzaye bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
He that watcheth the fig-tree shall eat its fruit; So he that is careful for his master shall come to honor.
19 Kama uso uonekanavyo kwenye maji, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwonyesha alivyo.
As in water face answereth to face, So doth the heart of man to man.
The realms of the dead are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Kalibu ni kwa ajili ya fedha na tanuru kwa ajili ya dhahabu, bali mtu hupimwa kwa sifa azipokeazo.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; So let a man be to the mouth that giveth him praise.
22 Hata ukimtwanga mpumbavu kwenye kinu, ukimtwanga kama nafaka kwa mchi, hutauondoa upumbavu wake.
Though thou shouldst beat a fool in a mortar, Among bruised wheat, with a pestle, Yet will not his folly depart from him.
23 Hakikisha kuwa unajua hali ya makundi yako ya kondoo na mbuzi, angalia kwa bidii ngʼombe zako.
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds!
24 Kwa kuwa utajiri haudumu milele, nayo taji haidumu vizazi vyote.
For riches last not for ever; Not even a crown endureth from generation to generation.
25 Wakati majani makavu yameondolewa na mapya yamechipua, nayo majani toka milimani yamekusanywa,
The hay disappeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbage of the mountains is gathered in.
26 wana-kondoo watakupatia mavazi na mbuzi thamani ya shamba.
The lambs are thy clothing, And the goats the price of thy field.
27 Utakuwa na maziwa mengi ya mbuzi kukulisha wewe na jamaa yako, na kuwalisha watumishi wako wa kike.
There is goat's milk enough for thy food, For the food of thy household, And for the sustenance of thy maidens.
