Mithali 26
1 Kama theluji wakati wa joto au mvua kwenye mavuno, ndivyo mpumbavu asivyostahili heshima.
In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.
2 Kama shorowanda hurukaruka na kumeza wadudu wakati wa kuruka, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyostahili haishuki.
Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.
3 Mjeledi ni kwa ajili ya farasi, hatamu kwa ajili ya punda na fimbo ni kwa ajili mgongo wa wapumbavu.
A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.
4 Usimjibu mpumbavu na kujiunga katika upumbavu wake, au utakuwa kama yeye.
Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.
5 Mjibu mpumbavu na jiunge katika upumbavu wake, ili asiweze kuwa na busara katika macho yake mwenyewe.
Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.
6 Anayetuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu huikata miguu yake mwenyewe na kunywa vurugu.
Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.
7 Miguu ya kiwete inayoning'ia chini ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.
8 Kujaribisha jiwe kwenye kombeo ni sawa na kumpa heshima mpumbavu.
Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.
9 Mwiba unaochoma kwenye mkono wa mlevi ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.
10 Mpiga mishale anayejeruhi kila mtu ni kama mtu anayemwajiri mpumbavu au kila mtu anayepita karibu yake.
Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.
11 Kama mbwa anavyorudia matapishi yake, ndivyo alivyo mpumbavu anayerudia upuuzi wake.
Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.
12 Je unamwona mtu mwenye busara katika macho yake mwenyewe? Mpumbavu anamatumaini zaidi kuliko yeye.
Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.
13 Mtu mvivu husema “Kuna simba kwenye barabara! Kuna simba katikati ya njia kuu!”
The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”
14 Kama mlango unavyogeuka kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo alivyo mtu mvivu kwenye kitanda chake.
Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutia mkono wake kwenye sufuria na bado hana nguvu kuunyanyua kwenda kwenye kinywa chake.
The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.
16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima kwenye macho yake mwenyewe kuliko watu saba wenye ufahamu.
The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.
17 Kama mtu anayeshikilia masikio ya mbwa, ndivyo alivyo mpitajia anayepata hasira kwenye ugomvi ambao si wake.
Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu anayetupa mishale,
Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,
19 ndivyo alivyo ambaye humdanganya jirani yake na kusema, “Je sikuwa naongea utani?”
so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”
20 Kwa kukosa kuni, moto huzimika; na pale pasipo na mmbea ugomvi hukoma.
When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.
21 Mkaa ni kwa kuwasha makaa na kuni kwa ajili ya moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuwasha ugomvi.
Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.
22 Maneno ya mmbea ni kama chembe tamu; nazo zinashuka chini kwenye sehemu za ndani ya mwili.
The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.
23 Kioo kinachofunika chombo cha udongo ni kama midomo inayoungua na moyo mbaya.
In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.
24 Yule ambaye huwachukia wengine huficha hisia zake kwa midomo na hufunika uongo ndani yake mwenyewe.
An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.
25 Ataongea kwa huruma, lakini usimwamini, maana kuna machukizo saba kwenye moyo wake.
When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.
26 Ingawa chuki zake zimefunikwa kwa udanganyifu, uovu wake utakuwa wazi katika kusanyiko.
Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.
27 Anayechimba shimo atatumbukia ndani yake na jiwe litamsaga yule anayelisukuma.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.
28 Ulimi wa uongo huchukia watu unaowajeruhi na kinywa cha uongo husogeza karibu uharibifu.
A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.
