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 [is] not comely for a fool.
2 Kama shorowanda hurukaruka na kumeza wadudu wakati wa kuruka, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyostahili haishuki.
As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.
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, a bridle for an 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 be like to him — even thou.
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 is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.
7 Miguu ya kiwete inayoning'ia chini ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
Weak have been the two legs of the lame, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 Kujaribisha jiwe kwenye kombeo ni sawa na kumpa heshima mpumbavu.
As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So [is] he who is giving honour to a fool.
9 Mwiba unaochoma kwenye mkono wa mlevi ni kama mithali kwenye kinywa cha wapumbavu.
A thorn hath gone up into the hand of a drunkard, And a parable in the mouth of fools.
10 Mpiga mishale anayejeruhi kila mtu ni kama mtu anayemwajiri mpumbavu au kila mtu anayepita karibu yake.
Great [is] the Former of all, And He is rewarding a fool, And is rewarding transgressors.
11 Kama mbwa anavyorudia matapishi yake, ndivyo alivyo mpumbavu anayerudia upuuzi wake.
As a dog hath returned to its vomit, A fool is repeating his folly.
12 Je unamwona mtu mwenye busara katika macho yake mwenyewe? Mpumbavu anamatumaini zaidi kuliko yeye.
Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!
13 Mtu mvivu husema “Kuna simba kwenye barabara! Kuna simba katikati ya njia kuu!”
The slothful hath said, 'A lion [is] in the way, A lion [is] in the broad places.'
14 Kama mlango unavyogeuka kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo alivyo mtu mvivu kwenye kitanda chake.
The door turneth round on its hinge, And the slothful on his bed.
15 Mtu mvivu hutia mkono wake kwenye sufuria na bado hana nguvu kuunyanyua kwenda kwenye kinywa chake.
The slothful hath hid his hand in a dish, He is weary of bringing it back to his mouth.
16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima kwenye macho yake mwenyewe kuliko watu saba wenye ufahamu.
Wiser [is] the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven [men] returning a reason.
17 Kama mtu anayeshikilia masikio ya mbwa, ndivyo alivyo mpitajia anayepata hasira kwenye ugomvi ambao si wake.
Laying hold on the ears of a dog, [Is] a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.
18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu anayetupa mishale,
As [one] pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,
19 ndivyo alivyo ambaye humdanganya jirani yake na kusema, “Je sikuwa naongea utani?”
So hath a man deceived his neighbour, And hath said, 'Am not I playing?'
20 Kwa kukosa kuni, moto huzimika; na pale pasipo na mmbea ugomvi hukoma.
Without wood is fire going out, And without a tale-bearer, contention ceaseth,
21 Mkaa ni kwa kuwasha makaa na kuni kwa ajili ya moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuwasha ugomvi.
Coal to burning coals, and wood to fire, And a man of contentions to kindle strife.
22 Maneno ya mmbea ni kama chembe tamu; nazo zinashuka chini kwenye sehemu za ndani ya mwili.
The words of a tale-bearer [are] as self-inflicted wounds, And they have gone down [to] the inner parts of the heart.
23 Kioo kinachofunika chombo cha udongo ni kama midomo inayoungua na moyo mbaya.
Silver of dross spread over potsherd, [Are] burning lips and an evil heart.
24 Yule ambaye huwachukia wengine huficha hisia zake kwa midomo na hufunika uongo ndani yake mwenyewe.
By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,
25 Ataongea kwa huruma, lakini usimwamini, maana kuna machukizo saba kwenye moyo wake.
When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations [are] in his heart.
26 Ingawa chuki zake zimefunikwa kwa udanganyifu, uovu wake utakuwa wazi katika kusanyiko.
Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.
27 Anayechimba shimo atatumbukia ndani yake na jiwe litamsaga yule anayelisukuma.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And the roller of a stone, to him it turneth.
28 Ulimi wa uongo huchukia watu unaowajeruhi na kinywa cha uongo husogeza karibu uharibifu.
A lying tongue hateth its bruised ones, And a flattering mouth worketh an overthrow!
