Mithali 26
1 Kama theluji wakati wa joto au mvua kwenye mavuno, ndivyo mpumbavu asivyostahili heshima.
As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour beseemeth not a fool.
2 Kama shorowanda hurukaruka na kumeza wadudu wakati wa kuruka, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyostahili haishuki.
As the sparrow for flitting about, as the swallow for flying, so a curse undeserved shall not come.
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 ass, and a rod for the back of fools.
4 Usimjibu mpumbavu na kujiunga katika upumbavu wake, au utakuwa kama yeye.
Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto 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 be wise in his own eyes.
6 Anayetuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu huikata miguu yake mwenyewe na kunywa vurugu.
He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off [his own] feet, [and] drinketh damage.
7 Miguu ya kiwete inayoning'ia chini ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
The legs of the lame hang loose; so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Kujaribisha jiwe kwenye kombeo ni sawa na kumpa heshima mpumbavu.
As a bag of gems in a stoneheap, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
9 Mwiba unaochoma kwenye mkono wa mlevi ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
[As] a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
10 Mpiga mishale anayejeruhi kila mtu ni kama mtu anayemwajiri mpumbavu au kila mtu anayepita karibu yake.
A master roughly worketh every one: he both hireth the fool and hireth passers-by.
11 Kama mbwa anavyorudia matapishi yake, ndivyo alivyo mpumbavu anayerudia upuuzi wake.
As a dog turneth back to its vomit, [so] a fool repeateth his folly.
12 Je unamwona mtu mwenye busara katika macho yake mwenyewe? Mpumbavu anamatumaini zaidi kuliko yeye.
Hast thou seen a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
13 Mtu mvivu husema “Kuna simba kwenye barabara! Kuna simba katikati ya njia kuu!”
The sluggard saith, There is a fierce lion in the way; a lion is in the midst of the streets!
14 Kama mlango unavyogeuka kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo alivyo mtu mvivu kwenye kitanda chake.
[As] the door turneth upon its hinges, so the sluggard upon his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutia mkono wake kwenye sufuria na bado hana nguvu kuunyanyua kwenda kwenye kinywa chake.
The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish: it wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima kwenye macho yake mwenyewe kuliko watu saba wenye ufahamu.
A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven [men] that answer discreetly.
17 Kama mtu anayeshikilia masikio ya mbwa, ndivyo alivyo mpitajia anayepata hasira kwenye ugomvi ambao si wake.
He that passing by vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, is [like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu anayetupa mishale,
As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 ndivyo alivyo ambaye humdanganya jirani yake na kusema, “Je sikuwa naongea utani?”
so is a man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am I not in sport?
20 Kwa kukosa kuni, moto huzimika; na pale pasipo na mmbea ugomvi hukoma.
Where no wood is, the fire goeth out; and where there is no talebearer, the contention ceaseth.
21 Mkaa ni kwa kuwasha makaa na kuni kwa ajili ya moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuwasha ugomvi.
[As] coals for hot coals, and wood for fire, so is a contentious man to inflame strife.
22 Maneno ya mmbea ni kama chembe tamu; nazo zinashuka chini kwenye sehemu za ndani ya mwili.
The words of a talebearer are as dainty morsels, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
23 Kioo kinachofunika chombo cha udongo ni kama midomo inayoungua na moyo mbaya.
Ardent lips, and a wicked heart, are [as] an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
24 Yule ambaye huwachukia wengine huficha hisia zake kwa midomo na hufunika uongo ndani yake mwenyewe.
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him:
25 Ataongea kwa huruma, lakini usimwamini, maana kuna machukizo saba kwenye moyo wake.
when his voice is gracious, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Ingawa chuki zake zimefunikwa kwa udanganyifu, uovu wake utakuwa wazi katika kusanyiko.
Though [his] hatred is covered by dissimulation, his wickedness shall be made manifest in the congregation.
27 Anayechimba shimo atatumbukia ndani yake na jiwe litamsaga yule anayelisukuma.
Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; and he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
28 Ulimi wa uongo huchukia watu unaowajeruhi na kinywa cha uongo husogeza karibu uharibifu.
A lying tongue hateth those that are injured by it, and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
