Mithali 27
1 Usijisifu kwa ajili ya kesho, kwa kuwa hujui ni nini kitakachozaliwa kwa siku moja.
Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
2 Mwache mwingine akusifu, wala si kinywa chako mwenyewe; mtu mwingine afanye hivyo na si midomo yako mwenyewe.
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; 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 is a burden; but a fool’s provocation 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 is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Afadhali karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichika.
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6 Majeraha kutoka kwa rafiki yaonyesha uaminifu, bali kubusu kwa adui ni kwingi sana.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 Yeye aliyeshiba huchukia kabisa asali, bali kwa mwenye njaa hata kile kilicho kichungu kwake ni kitamu.
A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a 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 that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Manukato na uvumba huleta furaha moyoni, nao uzuri wa rafiki huchipuka kutoka kwenye ushauri wake wa uaminifu.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
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.
Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbour who is near is better than a distant brother.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na hekima, nawe ulete furaha moyoni mwangu, ndipo nitakapoweza kumjibu yeyote anitendaye kwa dharau.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele nayo ikamtesa.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
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 when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 Kama mtu akimbariki jirani yake kwa sauti kuu asubuhi na mapema, itahesabiwa kama ni laana.
He who blesses his neighbour with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama matone yasiyokoma ya siku ya mvua.
A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
16 Kumzuia yeye ni kama kuuzuia upepo au kukamata mafuta kwa kiganja cha mkono.
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Kama vile chuma kinoavyo chuma, ndivyo mtu amnoavyo mwenzake.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
18 Yeye autunzaye mtini atakula tunda lake, naye amtunzaye bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honoured.
19 Kama uso uonekanavyo kwenye maji, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwonyesha alivyo.
Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes 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 crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
22 Hata ukimtwanga mpumbavu kwenye kinu, ukimtwanga kama nafaka kwa mchi, hutauondoa upumbavu wake.
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23 Hakikisha kuwa unajua hali ya makundi yako ya kondoo na mbuzi, angalia kwa bidii ngʼombe zako.
Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,
24 Kwa kuwa utajiri haudumu milele, nayo taji haidumu vizazi vyote.
for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 Wakati majani makavu yameondolewa na mapya yamechipua, nayo majani toka milimani yamekusanywa,
The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 wana-kondoo watakupatia mavazi na mbuzi thamani ya shamba.
The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
27 Utakuwa na maziwa mengi ya mbuzi kukulisha wewe na jamaa yako, na kuwalisha watumishi wako wa kike.
There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
