Mithali 26
1 Kama theluji wakati wa joto au mvua kwenye mavuno, ndivyo mpumbavu asivyostahili heshima.
Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.
2 Kama shorowanda hurukaruka na kumeza wadudu wakati wa kuruka, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyostahili haishuki.
Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.
3 Mjeledi ni kwa ajili ya farasi, hatamu kwa ajili ya punda na fimbo ni kwa ajili mgongo wa wapumbavu.
A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!
4 Usimjibu mpumbavu na kujiunga katika upumbavu wake, au utakuwa kama yeye.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
5 Mjibu mpumbavu na jiunge katika upumbavu wake, ili asiweze kuwa na busara katika macho yake mwenyewe.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
6 Anayetuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu huikata miguu yake mwenyewe na kunywa vurugu.
Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.
7 Miguu ya kiwete inayoning'ia chini ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
8 Kujaribisha jiwe kwenye kombeo ni sawa na kumpa heshima mpumbavu.
Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.
9 Mwiba unaochoma kwenye mkono wa mlevi ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
Like a thorn that falls into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
10 Mpiga mishale anayejeruhi kila mtu ni kama mtu anayemwajiri mpumbavu au kila mtu anayepita karibu yake.
Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.
11 Kama mbwa anavyorudia matapishi yake, ndivyo alivyo mpumbavu anayerudia upuuzi wake.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Je unamwona mtu mwenye busara katika macho yake mwenyewe? Mpumbavu anamatumaini zaidi kuliko yeye.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13 Mtu mvivu husema “Kuna simba kwenye barabara! Kuna simba katikati ya njia kuu!”
The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”
14 Kama mlango unavyogeuka kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo alivyo mtu mvivu kwenye kitanda chake.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutia mkono wake kwenye sufuria na bado hana nguvu kuunyanyua kwenda kwenye kinywa chake.
The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima kwenye macho yake mwenyewe kuliko watu saba wenye ufahamu.
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
17 Kama mtu anayeshikilia masikio ya mbwa, ndivyo alivyo mpitajia anayepata hasira kwenye ugomvi ambao si wake.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu anayetupa mishale,
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,
19 ndivyo alivyo ambaye humdanganya jirani yake na kusema, “Je sikuwa naongea utani?”
so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
20 Kwa kukosa kuni, moto huzimika; na pale pasipo na mmbea ugomvi hukoma.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
21 Mkaa ni kwa kuwasha makaa na kuni kwa ajili ya moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuwasha ugomvi.
Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
22 Maneno ya mmbea ni kama chembe tamu; nazo zinashuka chini kwenye sehemu za ndani ya mwili.
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.
23 Kioo kinachofunika chombo cha udongo ni kama midomo inayoungua na moyo mbaya.
Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.
24 Yule ambaye huwachukia wengine huficha hisia zake kwa midomo na hufunika uongo ndani yake mwenyewe.
A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
25 Ataongea kwa huruma, lakini usimwamini, maana kuna machukizo saba kwenye moyo wake.
When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.
26 Ingawa chuki zake zimefunikwa kwa udanganyifu, uovu wake utakuwa wazi katika kusanyiko.
Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Anayechimba shimo atatumbukia ndani yake na jiwe litamsaga yule anayelisukuma.
He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28 Ulimi wa uongo huchukia watu unaowajeruhi na kinywa cha uongo husogeza karibu uharibifu.
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
