Mithali 27
1 Usijisifu kwa ajili ya kesho, maana hujui siku italeta nini.
Don't boast about what you're going to do tomorrow, because you don't know what the day may bring.
2 Mtu mwingine akusifu na wala si kinywa chako mwenyewe, mgeni na wala si midomo yako mwenyewe.
Let others praise you, not you yourself; someone else, not you personally.
3 Fikiria uzito wa jiwe na uzito wa mchanga- uchokozi wa mpumbavu ni mzito zaidi kuliko hivyo vyote.
Stone may be heavy, and sand may weigh a lot, but the annoyance caused by stupid people is the biggest burden of all.
4 Kuna ukatili wenye ghadhabu kali na mafuriko ya hasira, lakini ni nani anayeweza kusimama mbele ya wivu?
Fury may be fierce and cruel, anger may be a destructive flood, but who can withstand jealousy?
5 Ni bora karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichwa.
Open criticism is better than hidden love.
6 Mwaminifu ni jeraha zilizosababishwa na rafiki, lakini adui anaweza kukubusu kwa kuomba radhi mno.
A friend's honest comments may hurt you, but an enemy's kisses are over the top.
7 Mtu aliyekula na kushiba hulikataa hata sega la asali, bali kwa mtu mwenye njaa, kila kitu kichungu ni kitamu.
If you're full up, you can't face honey; but if you're starving, even bitter food tastes sweet.
8 Ndege anayezurura kutoka kwenye kiota chake ni kama mtu anayepotea sehemu ambayo anaishi.
Having to leave home is like a bird having to leave its nest.
9 Pafumu na manukato huufanya moyo ufurahi, lakini utamu wa rafiki ni bora kuliko ushauri wake.
Perfume and scented oils make you feel happy, but good advice from a friend is even better.
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.
Don't give up on your friends or your family's friends. Don't go to a relative's house when you've got trouble. A friend nearby is more useful than a relative far away.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na busara, moyo wangu ufurahi; kisha nitamjibu yule anayenidhihaki.
My son, make me happy by being wise, so I can respond to anyone who criticizes me.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huiona taabu na kujificha mwenyewe, lakini mjinga huendelea mbele na kuteseka kwa ajili ya taabu.
If you're sensible you see danger coming and get out of the way; but stupid people just keep going and suffer the consequences.
13 vazi kama mwenyewe anaweka pesa kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni; lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa malaya.
If someone guarantees a stranger's debt with their cloak, be sure to take it! Make sure you have whatever is pledged to an immoral woman!
14 Anayempa jirani yake baraka kwa sauti ya juu mapema asubuhi, baraka hiyo itafikiriwa kuwa laana!
If when you get up every morning you shout a loud hello to your neighbors, they will see that as a curse!
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama siku ya manyunyu ya mvua ya daima;
An argumentative wife is as irritating as constant dripping on a rainy day.
16 kumzuia ni kama kuuzuia upepo, au kujaribu kushika mafuta kwa mkono wako wa kulia.
Trying to stop her is like trying to make the wind stop or trying to hold olive oil in your hand.
17 Chuma hunoa chuma; kwa njia ile ile; mtu humnoa rafiki yake.
An iron blade is sharpened with an iron tool, and one person's mind is sharpened by another's.
18 Yule anayeutunza mtini atakula matunda yake, na yule mwenye kumlinda bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
Those who care for a fig tree eat its fruit, and those who care for their master are rewarded.
19 Kama maji yanavyoakisi taswira ya sura ya mtu, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwaksi mtu.
Just as water reflects your face, your mind reflects who you really are.
20 Kama kuzimu na Uharibifu havitosheki, ndivyo yalivyo macho ya mtu hayawezi kutosheka. (Sheol h7585)
In the same way that the grave and destruction are never satisfied, human desire is never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuru ni kwa dhahabu; na mtu hujaribiwa anaposifiwa.
Just as a crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, people are tested by the praise they receive.
22 Hata kama utamponda mpumbavu kwa mchI- pamoja na nafaka- bado upumbavu wake hautatoka.
Even if you ground stupid people in a mortar, crushing them like grain with the pestle, you can't get rid of stupidity from them.
23 Hakikisha unajua hali ya makundi yako na ujishughulishe juu ya makundi yako,
You should know the condition of your flocks really well and take good care of your herds,
24 maana utajiri haudumu daima. Je taji hudumu kwa vizazi vyote?
for wealth doesn't last forever—is a crown passed down through all generations?
25 Majani huondoka na ukuaji mpya huonekana na milima ya chakula cha mifugo hukusanywa ndani.
Once the hay is cut, and the new growth begins, and fodder from the mountains is gathered,
26 Wanakondoo watakupatia mavazi yako na mbuzi watakupatia gharama ya shamba.
and the lambs have provided you wool to make clothing, and the sale of goats have paid for a field,
27 Kutakuwa na maziwa ya mbuzi kwa chakula chako- chakula kwa kaya yako- na chakula kwa watumishi wako wasichana.
there'll be enough milk from your goats to feed you, your family, and your servant girls.
