Mithali 27
1 Usijisifu kwa ajili ya kesho, kwa kuwa hujui ni nini kitakachozaliwa kwa siku moja.
Do not boast 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 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.
Heavy is a stone, and weighty is sand, —but, the vexation of a fool, is heavier than both.
4 Hasira ni ukatili na ghadhabu kali ni gharika, lakini ni nani awezaye kusimama mbele ya wivu?
The cruelty of rage, and the overflow of anger! But who can stand before, jealousy?
5 Afadhali karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichika.
Better is a rebuke that is open, than love carefully concealed.
6 Majeraha kutoka kwa rafiki yaonyesha uaminifu, bali kubusu kwa adui ni kwingi sana.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but lavished are the kisses of an enemy.
7 Yeye aliyeshiba huchukia kabisa asali, bali kwa mwenye njaa hata kile kilicho kichungu kwake ni kitamu.
The surfeited soul, trampleth upon droppings from the comb, but, to the hungry soul, every bitter thing, is sweet.
8 Kama ndege atangatangavyo mbali na kiota chake, ndivyo alivyo mtu atangatangaye mbali na nyumbani mwake.
As a bird wandering from her nest, so, is a man wandering from his place.
9 Manukato na uvumba huleta furaha moyoni, nao uzuri wa rafiki huchipuka kutoka kwenye ushauri wake wa uaminifu.
Oil and perfume, rejoice the heart, the sweetness of one’s friend, more than fragrant wood.
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, do not thou forsake; but, the house of thy brother, do not enter, in thy day of calamity, Better a neighbour 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 rejoice my heart, that I may answer him that reproacheth me in a matter.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele nayo ikamtesa.
A prudent man, seeth calamity—he hideth himself, the simple, pass on—they suffer.
13 Chukua vazi la yule awekaye dhamana kwa ajili ya mgeni; lishikilie iwe dhamana kama anafanya hivyo kwa ajili ya mwanamke mpotovu.
Take a man’s garment when he hath become pledge for a stranger, then, for a female unknown, accept him as surety.
14 Kama mtu akimbariki jirani yake kwa sauti kuu asubuhi na mapema, itahesabiwa kama ni laana.
He that blesseth his friend, with a loud voice, in the morning early, a reproach, shall it be reckoned to him.
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama matone yasiyokoma ya siku ya mvua.
A continuous dripping on a day of downpour, and a contentious wife, are alike:
16 Kumzuia yeye ni kama kuuzuia upepo au kukamata mafuta kwa kiganja cha mkono.
He that hideth her, hideth the wind, and, perfume, his right hand may proclaim.
17 Kama vile chuma kinoavyo chuma, ndivyo mtu amnoavyo mwenzake.
Let, iron, by iron, become sharp, and let, a man, sharpen the face of his friend.
18 Yeye autunzaye mtini atakula tunda lake, naye amtunzaye bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
He that guardeth the fig-tree, shall eat the fruit thereof, and, he that watcheth over his master, shall be honoured.
19 Kama uso uonekanavyo kwenye maji, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwonyesha alivyo.
As in water, face [answereth] to face, so, the heart of man to man.
Hades and destruction, are not satisfied, and, the eyes of a man, are not satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Kalibu ni kwa ajili ya fedha na tanuru kwa ajili ya dhahabu, bali mtu hupimwa kwa sifa azipokeazo.
Fining pot for silver, and crucible for gold, and, a man, [is to be tried] by what he praiseth.
22 Hata ukimtwanga mpumbavu kwenye kinu, ukimtwanga kama nafaka kwa mchi, hutauondoa upumbavu wake.
Though thou pound a fool in a mortar, amidst grain, with a pestle, his folly, will not depart from him.
23 Hakikisha kuwa unajua hali ya makundi yako ya kondoo na mbuzi, angalia kwa bidii ngʼombe zako.
Note well, the appearance of thy flock, apply thy mind to thy herds;
24 Kwa kuwa utajiri haudumu milele, nayo taji haidumu vizazi vyote.
For, not age-abiding, are riches, nor is the diadem, from generation to generation: —
25 Wakati majani makavu yameondolewa na mapya yamechipua, nayo majani toka milimani yamekusanywa,
The grass, is taken away, and the young shoot, showeth itself, and the herbage of the mountains, is gathered;
26 wana-kondoo watakupatia mavazi na mbuzi thamani ya shamba.
There are, lambs, for thy clothing, and, for the price of thy field, there are he-goats;
27 Utakuwa na maziwa mengi ya mbuzi kukulisha wewe na jamaa yako, na kuwalisha watumishi wako wa kike.
With, enough goats-milk, for thy food—for the food of thy household, and, a maintenance, for thy maidens.
