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 bringeth 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.
A stone [is] heavy, and the sand [is] heavy, And the anger of a fool Is heavier than they both.
4 Hasira ni ukatili na ghadhabu kali ni gharika, lakini ni nani awezaye kusimama mbele ya wivu?
Fury [is] fierce, and anger [is] overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?
5 Afadhali karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichika.
Better [is] open reproof than hidden love.
6 Majeraha kutoka kwa rafiki yaonyesha uaminifu, bali kubusu kwa adui ni kwingi sana.
Faithful are the wounds of a lover, And abundant the kisses of an enemy.
7 Yeye aliyeshiba huchukia kabisa asali, bali kwa mwenye njaa hata kile kilicho kichungu kwake ni kitamu.
A satiated soul treadeth down a honeycomb, And [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 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.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, And the sweetness of one's friend — from counsel of the soul.
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 the friend of thy father, forsake not, And the house of thy brother enter not In a day of thy calamity, Better [is] a near neighbour than a brother afar 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. And I return my reproacher a word.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huona hatari na kujificha, bali mjinga huendelea mbele nayo ikamtesa.
The prudent hath seen the evil, he is hidden, The simple have passed on, they 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, when a stranger hath been surety, And for a strange woman pledge it.
14 Kama mtu akimbariki jirani yake kwa sauti kuu asubuhi na mapema, itahesabiwa kama ni laana.
Whoso is saluting his friend with a loud voice, In the morning rising early, A light thing it is reckoned to him.
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama matone yasiyokoma ya siku ya mvua.
A continual dropping in a day of rain, And a woman of contentions are alike,
16 Kumzuia yeye ni kama kuuzuia upepo au kukamata mafuta kwa kiganja cha mkono.
Whoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.
17 Kama vile chuma kinoavyo chuma, ndivyo mtu amnoavyo mwenzake.
Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.
18 Yeye autunzaye mtini atakula tunda lake, naye amtunzaye bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
The keeper of a fig-tree eateth its fruit, And the preserver of his master is honoured.
19 Kama uso uonekanavyo kwenye maji, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwonyesha alivyo.
As [in] water the face [is] to face, So the heart of man to man.
Sheol and destruction are not satisfied, And the eyes of 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.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And a man according to his praise.
22 Hata ukimtwanga mpumbavu kwenye kinu, ukimtwanga kama nafaka kwa mchi, hutauondoa upumbavu wake.
If thou dost beat the foolish in a mortar, Among washed things — with a pestle, His folly turneth not aside from off him.
23 Hakikisha kuwa unajua hali ya makundi yako ya kondoo na mbuzi, angalia kwa bidii ngʼombe zako.
Know well the face of thy flock, Set thy heart to the droves,
24 Kwa kuwa utajiri haudumu milele, nayo taji haidumu vizazi vyote.
For riches [are] not to the age, Nor a crown to generation and generation.
25 Wakati majani makavu yameondolewa na mapya yamechipua, nayo majani toka milimani yamekusanywa,
Revealed was the hay, and seen the tender grass, And gathered the herbs of mountains.
26 wana-kondoo watakupatia mavazi na mbuzi thamani ya shamba.
Lambs [are] for thy clothing, And the price of the field [are] he-goats,
27 Utakuwa na maziwa mengi ya mbuzi kukulisha wewe na jamaa yako, na kuwalisha watumishi wako wa kike.
And a sufficiency of goats' milk [is] for thy bread, For bread to thy house, and life to thy damsels!
