Mithali 25
1 Hizi tena ni mithali za Sulemani, zilinakiliwa na watu wa Hezekia, mfalme wa Yuda.
These are more proverbs of Solomon, collected by the scribes of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2 Ni utukufu wa Mungu kuficha jambo, bali utukufu wa wafalme kutafiti juu ya jambo.
God's greatness is in doing things that can't be known, while the greatness of kings is in revealing things.
3 Kama mbingu ni kwa kimo na dunia ni kwa kina, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa wafalme hauchunguziki.
Just as the height of the heavens or the depth of the earth can't be known, the king's thinking can't be known.
4 Ondoa takataka kutoka kwenye fedha na mfua vyuma anaweza kutumia fedha katika ufundi wake.
Remove the waste from the silver, and the silversmith has pure silver to work with.
5 Pamoja na hayo, waondoe watu waovu mbele ya mfalme na kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa kwa kutenda haki.
Remove the wicked from the king's presence and the king will rule securely and justly.
6 Usijitukuze mwenyewe mbele ya mfalme na usisimame katika sehemu iliyoteuliwa kwa watu wakuu.
Don't try to make yourself look great before the king, and don't pretend to be among the important people,
7 Ni bora yeye akuambie, “Njoo hapa” kuliko wewe kujiaibisha mbele ya mkuu.
for it's better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be humiliated before a nobleman. Even though you've seen something with your own eyes,
8 Usiharakishe kufanya kuhukumu, kwa kile ulichokishuhudia. Maana utafanya nini mwishoni, wakati jirani yako atakapokuaibisha?
don't rush to take legal action, for what are you going to do in the end when your neighbor shows you're wrong and humiliates you?
9 Jitetee kesi yako kati ya jirani yako na wewe na usifunue siri ya mtu mwingine,
Discuss the case with your neighbor himself, and don't betray someone else's secret,
10 au vinginevyo anayekusikia ataleta aibu juu yako na taarifa mbaya juu yako haiwezi kunyamazishwa.
otherwise whoever hears it will make you ashamed and you'll never lose your bad reputation.
11 Kunena maneno yenye kuchaguliwa vizuri, ni kama nakshi za dhahabu iliyoungwa kwenye fedha.
Advice given at the right time is like golden apples set in silver.
12 Kama pete ya dhahabu au kito kilichotengenezwa kwa dhahabu safi ndivyo lilivyo karipio la busara kwenye sikio linalosikia.
Constructive criticism from the wise to someone who listens is like a gold ring and a necklace of fine gold.
13 Kama baridi ya theluji wakati wa mavuno ndivyo alivyo mjumbe mwaminifu kwa wenye kumtuma; huyahifadhi maisha ya mabwana wake.
Faithful messengers are as refreshing to their master as cold snow on a hot harvest day.
14 Kama mawingu na upepo bila mvua ndivyo alivyo mwenye kujisifu kuhusu zawadi asiyoitoa.
Someone who boasts about a gift they never give is like cloud and wind without rain.
15 Kwa uvumilivu mtawala anaweza kushawishiwa na ulimi raini unaweza kuvunja mfupa.
If you're patient you can persuade your superior, and soft words can break down opposition.
16 Kama utapata asali, kula ya kutosha- vingenevyo, ukila nyingi sana, utaitapika.
If you find honey, eat just enough, for if you eat too much, you'll be sick.
17 Usiweke mguu wako kwenye nyumba ya jirani yako mara nyingi, anaweza kuchoshwa nawe na kukuchukia.
Don't set foot in your neighbors' homes too often, otherwise they'll get fed up with you and hate you.
18 Mtu anayetoa ushuhuda wa uongo dhidi ya jirani yake ni kama rungu lililotumiwa katika vita, au upanga, au mshale mkali.
Telling lies in court against a friend is like attacking them with a mace, or a sword, or an arrow.
19 Kumtumaini mtu asiye mwaminifu wakati wa taabu ni kama jino bovu au mguu unaoteleza.
Trusting in unreliable people in times of trouble is like eating with a broken tooth or walking on a bad foot.
20 Kama mtu anayevua nguo katika hali ya baridi, au kama siki iliyotiwa kwenye magadi, ndivyo alivyo anayeimba wimbo kwa mwenye moyo mzito.
Singing happy songs to someone who's broken-hearted is like taking off your coat on a cold day, or pouring vinegar onto an open wound.
21 Kama adui yako ana njaa, mpe chakula ale na kama ana kiu, mpe maji ya kunywa,
If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat; if he's thirsty, give him a drink of water.
22 maana utamwekea mkaa juu ya kichwa chake na Yehova atakupa thawabu.
This will make him ashamed as if he had burning coals piled on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
23 Ni hakika upepo wa kaskazini huleta mvua, ndivyo mtu anayesema siri hufanya sura zikasirike.
In the same way that the north wind brings rain, slandering people makes them angry.
24 Ni bora kuishi kwenye pembe ya darini kuliko kuchangia nyumba pamoja na mwanamke mgomvi.
It's better to live in a corner of a housetop than to share a whole house with an argumentative wife.
25 Kama maji ya baridi kwa mwenye kiu, ndivyo ilivyo habari njema kutoka nchi ya mbali.
Good news from a distant country is like cold water to an exhausted traveler.
26 Kama chemchemi iliyochafuliwa au kisima kilichoharibiwa ndivyo alivyo mtu mwema ambaye huyumbayumba mbele ya watu waovu.
Good people who give in to the wicked are like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27 Si vema kula asali nyingi mno; hivyo ni kama kutafuta heshima baada heshima.
It's not good to eat too much honey, or to want too much praise.
28 Mtu bila kujitawala ni kama mji ulibomolewa na usiokuwa na kuta.
Someone without control is as exposed as a town whose walls have been breached.
