Mithali 27
1 Usijisifu kwa ajili ya kesho, maana hujui siku italeta nini.
Boast not for tomorrow, for thou knowest not what the day to come may bring forth.
2 Mtu mwingine akusifu na wala si kinywa chako mwenyewe, mgeni na wala si midomo yako mwenyewe.
Let another praise thee, and not thy own mouth: a stranger, and not thy own lips.
3 Fikiria uzito wa jiwe na uzito wa mchanga- uchokozi wa mpumbavu ni mzito zaidi kuliko hivyo vyote.
A stone is heavy, and sand weighty: but the anger of a fool is heavier than them both.
4 Kuna ukatili wenye ghadhabu kali na mafuriko ya hasira, lakini ni nani anayeweza kusimama mbele ya wivu?
Anger hath no mercy, nor fury when it breaketh forth: and who can bear the violence of one provoked?
5 Ni bora karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichwa.
Open rebuke is better than hidden love.
6 Mwaminifu ni jeraha zilizosababishwa na rafiki, lakini adui anaweza kukubusu kwa kuomba radhi mno.
Better are the wounds of a friend, than the deceitful kisses of an enemy.
7 Mtu aliyekula na kushiba hulikataa hata sega la asali, bali kwa mtu mwenye njaa, kila kitu kichungu ni kitamu.
A soul that is full shall tread upon the honeycomb: and a soul that is hungry shall take even bitter for sweet.
8 Ndege anayezurura kutoka kwenye kiota chake ni kama mtu anayepotea sehemu ambayo anaishi.
As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that leaveth his place.
9 Pafumu na manukato huufanya moyo ufurahi, lakini utamu wa rafiki ni bora kuliko ushauri wake.
Ointment and perfumes rejoice the heart: and the good counsels of a friend are sweet to the soul.
10 Usimwache rafiki yako na rafiki wa baba yako, na usiende kwenye nyumba ya ndugu yako katika siku ya msiba wako. Ni bora rafiki ambaye yupo karibu kuliko ndugu ambaye yupo mbali.
Thy own friend, and thy father’s friend forsake not: and go not into thy brother’s house in the day of thy affliction. Better is a neighbour that is near, than a brother afar off.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na busara, moyo wangu ufurahi; kisha nitamjibu yule anayenidhihaki.
Study wisdom, my son, and make my heart joyful, that thou mayst give an answer to him that reproacheth.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huiona taabu na kujificha mwenyewe, lakini mjinga huendelea mbele na kuteseka kwa ajili ya taabu.
The prudent man seeing evil hideth himself: little ones passing on have suffered losses.
13 vazi kama mwenyewe anaweka pesa kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni; lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa malaya.
Take away his garment that hath been surety for a stranger: and take from him a pledge for strangers.
14 Anayempa jirani yake baraka kwa sauti ya juu mapema asubuhi, baraka hiyo itafikiriwa kuwa laana!
He that blesseth his neighbour with a loud voice, rising in the night, shall be like to him that curseth.
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama siku ya manyunyu ya mvua ya daima;
Roofs dropping through in a cold day, and a contentious woman are alike.
16 kumzuia ni kama kuuzuia upepo, au kujaribu kushika mafuta kwa mkono wako wa kulia.
He that retaineth her, is as he that would hold the wind, and shall call in the oil of his right hand.
17 Chuma hunoa chuma; kwa njia ile ile; mtu humnoa rafiki yake.
Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18 Yule anayeutunza mtini atakula matunda yake, na yule mwenye kumlinda bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
He that keepeth the fig tree, shall eat the fruit thereof: and he that is the keeper of his master, shall be glorified.
19 Kama maji yanavyoakisi taswira ya sura ya mtu, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwaksi mtu.
As the faces of them that look therein, shine in the water, so-the hearts of men are laid open to the wise.
20 Kama kuzimu na Uharibifu havitosheki, ndivyo yalivyo macho ya mtu hayawezi kutosheka. (Sheol h7585)
Hell and destruction are never filled: so the eyes of men are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuru ni kwa dhahabu; na mtu hujaribiwa anaposifiwa.
As silver is tried in the fining-pot and gold in the furnace: so a man is tried by the mouth of him that praiseth. The heart of the wicked seeketh after evils, but the righteous heart seeketh after knowledge.
22 Hata kama utamponda mpumbavu kwa mchI- pamoja na nafaka- bado upumbavu wake hautatoka.
Though thou shouldst bray a fool in the mortar, as when a pestle striketh upon sodden barley, his folly would not be taken from him.
23 Hakikisha unajua hali ya makundi yako na ujishughulishe juu ya makundi yako,
Be diligent to know the countenance of thy cattle, and consider thy own flocks:
24 maana utajiri haudumu daima. Je taji hudumu kwa vizazi vyote?
For thou shalt not always have power: but a crown shall be given to generation and generation.
25 Majani huondoka na ukuaji mpya huonekana na milima ya chakula cha mifugo hukusanywa ndani.
The meadows are open, and the green herbs have appeared, and the hay is gathered out of the mountains.
26 Wanakondoo watakupatia mavazi yako na mbuzi watakupatia gharama ya shamba.
Lambs are for thy clothing: and kids for the price of the field.
27 Kutakuwa na maziwa ya mbuzi kwa chakula chako- chakula kwa kaya yako- na chakula kwa watumishi wako wasichana.
Let the milk of the goats be enough for thy food, and for the necessities of thy house, and for maintenance for thy handmaids.
