Mithali 25
1 Hizi tena ni mithali za Sulemani, zilinakiliwa na watu wa Hezekia, mfalme wa Yuda.
These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out.
2 Ni utukufu wa Mungu kuficha jambo, bali utukufu wa wafalme kutafiti juu ya jambo.
The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honors business.
3 Kama mbingu ni kwa kimo na dunia ni kwa kina, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa wafalme hauchunguziki.
Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable.
4 Ondoa takataka kutoka kwenye fedha na mfua vyuma anaweza kutumia fedha katika ufundi wake.
Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure.
5 Pamoja na hayo, waondoe watu waovu mbele ya mfalme na kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa kwa kutenda haki.
Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness.
6 Usijitukuze mwenyewe mbele ya mfalme na usisimame katika sehemu iliyoteuliwa kwa watu wakuu.
Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes;
7 Ni bora yeye akuambie, “Njoo hapa” kuliko wewe kujiaibisha mbele ya mkuu.
for [it is] better for you that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble you in the presence of the prince; speak of that which your eyes have seen.
8 Usiharakishe kufanya kuhukumu, kwa kile ulichokishuhudia. Maana utafanya nini mwishoni, wakati jirani yako atakapokuaibisha?
Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest you repent at last.
9 Jitetee kesi yako kati ya jirani yako na wewe na usifunue siri ya mtu mwingine,
Whenever your friend shall reproach you, retreat backward, despise [him] not;
10 au vinginevyo anayekusikia ataleta aibu juu yako na taarifa mbaya juu yako haiwezi kunyamazishwa.
lest your friend continue to reproach you, so your quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to you like death. Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do you keep for yourself, lest you be made liable to reproach; but take heed to your ways peaceably.
11 Kunena maneno yenye kuchaguliwa vizuri, ni kama nakshi za dhahabu iliyoungwa kwenye fedha.
[As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word.
12 Kama pete ya dhahabu au kito kilichotengenezwa kwa dhahabu safi ndivyo lilivyo karipio la busara kwenye sikio linalosikia.
In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear.
13 Kama baridi ya theluji wakati wa mavuno ndivyo alivyo mjumbe mwaminifu kwa wenye kumtuma; huyahifadhi maisha ya mabwana wake.
As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers.
14 Kama mawingu na upepo bila mvua ndivyo alivyo mwenye kujisifu kuhusu zawadi asiyoitoa.
As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift.
15 Kwa uvumilivu mtawala anaweza kushawishiwa na ulimi raini unaweza kuvunja mfupa.
In longsuffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones.
16 Kama utapata asali, kula ya kutosha- vingenevyo, ukila nyingi sana, utaitapika.
Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply you be filled, and vomit it up.
17 Usiweke mguu wako kwenye nyumba ya jirani yako mara nyingi, anaweza kuchoshwa nawe na kukuchukia.
Enter sparingly into your friend's house, lest he be satiated with your company, and hate you.
18 Mtu anayetoa ushuhuda wa uongo dhidi ya jirani yake ni kama rungu lililotumiwa katika vita, au upanga, au mshale mkali.
[As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend.
19 Kumtumaini mtu asiye mwaminifu wakati wa taabu ni kama jino bovu au mguu unaoteleza.
The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day.
20 Kama mtu anayevua nguo katika hali ya baridi, au kama siki iliyotiwa kwenye magadi, ndivyo alivyo anayeimba wimbo kwa mwenye moyo mzito.
As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart.
21 Kama adui yako ana njaa, mpe chakula ale na kama ana kiu, mpe maji ya kunywa,
If your enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink;
22 maana utamwekea mkaa juu ya kichwa chake na Yehova atakupa thawabu.
for so doing you shall heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward you [with] good.
23 Ni hakika upepo wa kaskazini huleta mvua, ndivyo mtu anayesema siri hufanya sura zikasirike.
The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue.
24 Ni bora kuishi kwenye pembe ya darini kuliko kuchangia nyumba pamoja na mwanamke mgomvi.
[It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house.
25 Kama maji ya baridi kwa mwenye kiu, ndivyo ilivyo habari njema kutoka nchi ya mbali.
As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off.
26 Kama chemchemi iliyochafuliwa au kisima kilichoharibiwa ndivyo alivyo mtu mwema ambaye huyumbayumba mbele ya watu waovu.
As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man.
27 Si vema kula asali nyingi mno; hivyo ni kama kutafuta heshima baada heshima.
[It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honor venerable sayings.
28 Mtu bila kujitawala ni kama mji ulibomolewa na usiokuwa na kuta.
As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.
