Mithali 26
1 Kama theluji wakati wa joto au mvua kwenye mavuno, ndivyo mpumbavu asivyostahili heshima.
Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not fitting for a fool.
2 Kama shorowanda hurukaruka na kumeza wadudu wakati wa kuruka, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyostahili haishuki.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t 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 is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!
4 Usimjibu mpumbavu na kujiunga katika upumbavu wake, au utakuwa kama yeye.
Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also 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 be wise in his own eyes.
6 Anayetuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu huikata miguu yake mwenyewe na kunywa vurugu.
One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.
7 Miguu ya kiwete inayoning'ia chini ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Kujaribisha jiwe kwenye kombeo ni sawa na kumpa heshima mpumbavu.
As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honour to a fool.
9 Mwiba unaochoma kwenye mkono wa mlevi ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Mpiga mishale anayejeruhi kila mtu ni kama mtu anayemwajiri mpumbavu au kila mtu anayepita karibu yake.
As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.
11 Kama mbwa anavyorudia matapishi yake, ndivyo alivyo mpumbavu anayerudia upuuzi wake.
As a dog that returns to his 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 a man 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 sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road! A fierce lion roams the streets!”
14 Kama mlango unavyogeuka kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo alivyo mtu mvivu kwenye kitanda chake.
As the door turns on its hinges, so does the sluggard on his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutia mkono wake kwenye sufuria na bado hana nguvu kuunyanyua kwenda kwenye kinywa chake.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish. He is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima kwenye macho yake mwenyewe kuliko watu saba wenye ufahamu.
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.
17 Kama mtu anayeshikilia masikio ya mbwa, ndivyo alivyo mpitajia anayepata hasira kwenye ugomvi ambao si wake.
Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu anayetupa mishale,
Like a madman who shoots torches, arrows, and death,
19 ndivyo alivyo ambaye humdanganya jirani yake na kusema, “Je sikuwa naongea utani?”
is the man who deceives his neighbour and says, “Am I not joking?”
20 Kwa kukosa kuni, moto huzimika; na pale pasipo na mmbea ugomvi hukoma.
For lack of wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21 Mkaa ni kwa kuwasha makaa na kuni kwa ajili ya moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuwasha ugomvi.
As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.
22 Maneno ya mmbea ni kama chembe tamu; nazo zinashuka chini kwenye sehemu za ndani ya mwili.
The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.
23 Kioo kinachofunika chombo cha udongo ni kama midomo inayoungua na moyo mbaya.
Like silver dross on an earthen vessel are the lips of a fervent one with an evil heart.
24 Yule ambaye huwachukia wengine huficha hisia zake kwa midomo na hufunika uongo ndani yake mwenyewe.
A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but he harbours evil in his heart.
25 Ataongea kwa huruma, lakini usimwamini, maana kuna machukizo saba kwenye moyo wake.
When his speech is charming, don’t believe him, for there are seven abominations in his heart.
26 Ingawa chuki zake zimefunikwa kwa udanganyifu, uovu wake utakuwa wazi katika kusanyiko.
His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
27 Anayechimba shimo atatumbukia ndani yake na jiwe litamsaga yule anayelisukuma.
Whoever digs a pit shall fall into it. Whoever rolls a stone, it will come back on him.
28 Ulimi wa uongo huchukia watu unaowajeruhi na kinywa cha uongo husogeza karibu uharibifu.
A lying tongue hates those it hurts; and a flattering mouth works ruin.
