Mithali 25
1 Hizi tena ni mithali za Sulemani, zilinakiliwa na watu wa Hezekia, mfalme wa Yuda.
These [are] also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
2 Ni utukufu wa Mungu kuficha jambo, bali utukufu wa wafalme kutafiti juu ya jambo.
[It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honor of kings [is] to search out a matter.
3 Kama mbingu ni kwa kimo na dunia ni kwa kina, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa wafalme hauchunguziki.
The heaven for hight, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings [is] unsearchable.
4 Ondoa takataka kutoka kwenye fedha na mfua vyuma anaweza kutumia fedha katika ufundi wake.
Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
5 Pamoja na hayo, waondoe watu waovu mbele ya mfalme na kiti chake cha enzi kitaimarishwa kwa kutenda haki.
Take away the wicked [from] before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
6 Usijitukuze mwenyewe mbele ya mfalme na usisimame katika sehemu iliyoteuliwa kwa watu wakuu.
Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great [men]:
7 Ni bora yeye akuambie, “Njoo hapa” kuliko wewe kujiaibisha mbele ya mkuu.
For better [it is] that it be said to thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldst be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thy eyes have seen.
8 Usiharakishe kufanya kuhukumu, kwa kile ulichokishuhudia. Maana utafanya nini mwishoni, wakati jirani yako atakapokuaibisha?
Go not forth hastily to strive, lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.
9 Jitetee kesi yako kati ya jirani yako na wewe na usifunue siri ya mtu mwingine,
Debate thy cause with thy neighbor [himself]; and reveal not a secret to another:
10 au vinginevyo anayekusikia ataleta aibu juu yako na taarifa mbaya juu yako haiwezi kunyamazishwa.
Lest he that heareth [it] put thee to shame, and thy infamy turn not away.
11 Kunena maneno yenye kuchaguliwa vizuri, ni kama nakshi za dhahabu iliyoungwa kwenye fedha.
A word fitly spoken [is like] apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 Kama pete ya dhahabu au kito kilichotengenezwa kwa dhahabu safi ndivyo lilivyo karipio la busara kwenye sikio linalosikia.
[As] an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 Kama baridi ya theluji wakati wa mavuno ndivyo alivyo mjumbe mwaminifu kwa wenye kumtuma; huyahifadhi maisha ya mabwana wake.
As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 Kama mawingu na upepo bila mvua ndivyo alivyo mwenye kujisifu kuhusu zawadi asiyoitoa.
Whoever boasteth himself of a false gift [is like] clouds and wind without rain.
15 Kwa uvumilivu mtawala anaweza kushawishiwa na ulimi raini unaweza kuvunja mfupa.
By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
16 Kama utapata asali, kula ya kutosha- vingenevyo, ukila nyingi sana, utaitapika.
Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled with it, and vomit it.
17 Usiweke mguu wako kwenye nyumba ya jirani yako mara nyingi, anaweza kuchoshwa nawe na kukuchukia.
Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbor's house; lest he be weary of thee, and [so] hate thee.
18 Mtu anayetoa ushuhuda wa uongo dhidi ya jirani yake ni kama rungu lililotumiwa katika vita, au upanga, au mshale mkali.
A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor [is] a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 Kumtumaini mtu asiye mwaminifu wakati wa taabu ni kama jino bovu au mguu unaoteleza.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 Kama mtu anayevua nguo katika hali ya baridi, au kama siki iliyotiwa kwenye magadi, ndivyo alivyo anayeimba wimbo kwa mwenye moyo mzito.
[As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, [and as] vinegar upon nitre; so [is] he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
21 Kama adui yako ana njaa, mpe chakula ale na kama ana kiu, mpe maji ya kunywa,
If thy enemy shall hunger, give him bread to eat; and if he shall thirst, give him water to drink:
22 maana utamwekea mkaa juu ya kichwa chake na Yehova atakupa thawabu.
For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD will reward thee.
23 Ni hakika upepo wa kaskazini huleta mvua, ndivyo mtu anayesema siri hufanya sura zikasirike.
The north wind driveth away rain: so [doth] an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
24 Ni bora kuishi kwenye pembe ya darini kuliko kuchangia nyumba pamoja na mwanamke mgomvi.
[It is] better to dwell in a corner of the house-top, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 Kama maji ya baridi kwa mwenye kiu, ndivyo ilivyo habari njema kutoka nchi ya mbali.
[As] cold waters to a thirsty soul, so [is] good news from a far country.
26 Kama chemchemi iliyochafuliwa au kisima kilichoharibiwa ndivyo alivyo mtu mwema ambaye huyumbayumba mbele ya watu waovu.
A righteous man falling down before the wicked [is as] a turbid fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 Si vema kula asali nyingi mno; hivyo ni kama kutafuta heshima baada heshima.
[It is] not good to eat much honey: so [for men] to search their own glory [is not] glory.
28 Mtu bila kujitawala ni kama mji ulibomolewa na usiokuwa na kuta.
He that [hath] no rule over his own spirit [is like] a city [that is] broken down, [and] without walls.
