Mithali 26
1 Kama theluji wakati wa joto au mvua kwenye mavuno, ndivyo mpumbavu asivyostahili heshima.
Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so a fool does not deserve honor.
2 Kama shorowanda hurukaruka na kumeza wadudu wakati wa kuruka, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyostahili haishuki.
As the sparrow flitters and the swallow darts when they fly, so an undeserved curse does not alight.
3 Mjeledi ni kwa ajili ya farasi, hatamu kwa ajili ya punda na fimbo ni kwa ajili mgongo wa wapumbavu.
A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey and a rod is for the back 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 will become like him.
5 Mjibu mpumbavu na jiunge katika upumbavu wake, ili asiweze kuwa na busara katika macho yake mwenyewe.
Answer a fool and join in on his folly, so he will not become wise in his own eyes.
6 Anayetuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu huikata miguu yake mwenyewe na kunywa vurugu.
Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
7 Miguu ya kiwete inayoning'ia chini ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down is a proverb in the mouth of fools.
8 Kujaribisha jiwe kwenye kombeo ni sawa na kumpa heshima mpumbavu.
Like tying a stone in a sling is giving honor to a fool.
9 Mwiba unaochoma kwenye mkono wa mlevi ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard 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.
Like an archer who wounds all those around him is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.
11 Kama mbwa anavyorudia matapishi yake, ndivyo alivyo mpumbavu anayerudia upuuzi wake.
As a dog returns to his own vomit, so is a fool who repeats his folly.
12 Je unamwona mtu mwenye busara katika macho yake mwenyewe? Mpumbavu anamatumaini zaidi kuliko yeye.
Do you see someone 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 lazy person says, “There is a lion on the road! There is a lion between the open places!”
14 Kama mlango unavyogeuka kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo alivyo mtu mvivu kwenye kitanda chake.
As the door turns on its hinges, so is the lazy person upon his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutia mkono wake kwenye sufuria na bado hana nguvu kuunyanyua kwenda kwenye kinywa chake.
The lazy person puts his hand into the dish and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.
16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima kwenye macho yake mwenyewe kuliko watu saba wenye ufahamu.
The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who respond with good judgment.
17 Kama mtu anayeshikilia masikio ya mbwa, ndivyo alivyo mpitajia anayepata hasira kwenye ugomvi ambao si wake.
Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog, is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu anayetupa mishale,
Like a madman who shoots burning arrows,
19 ndivyo alivyo ambaye humdanganya jirani yake na kusema, “Je sikuwa naongea utani?”
is the one who deceives his neighbor and says, “Was I not telling a joke?”
20 Kwa kukosa kuni, moto huzimika; na pale pasipo na mmbea ugomvi hukoma.
For lack of wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no gossiper quarreling ceases.
21 Mkaa ni kwa kuwasha makaa na kuni kwa ajili ya moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuwasha ugomvi.
As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire, so is a quarrelsome person 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 delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
23 Kioo kinachofunika chombo cha udongo ni kama midomo inayoungua na moyo mbaya.
Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel so are burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Yule ambaye huwachukia wengine huficha hisia zake kwa midomo na hufunika uongo ndani yake mwenyewe.
One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips and he lays up deceit within himself.
25 Ataongea kwa huruma, lakini usimwamini, maana kuna machukizo saba kwenye moyo wake.
He will speak graciously, but do not believe him, 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 with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Anayechimba shimo atatumbukia ndani yake na jiwe litamsaga yule anayelisukuma.
Whoever digs a pit will fall into it and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.
28 Ulimi wa uongo huchukia watu unaowajeruhi na kinywa cha uongo husogeza karibu uharibifu.
A lying tongue hates the people it crushes and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.
