Mithali 27
1 Usijisifu kwa ajili ya kesho, maana hujui siku italeta nini.
Boast not of to-morrow; for you know not what the next day shall bring forth.
2 Mtu mwingine akusifu na wala si kinywa chako mwenyewe, mgeni na wala si midomo yako mwenyewe.
Let your neighbor, and not your own mouth, praise you; a stranger, and not your 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 cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both.
4 Kuna ukatili wenye ghadhabu kali na mafuriko ya hasira, lakini ni nani anayeweza kusimama mbele ya wivu?
Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
5 Ni bora karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichwa.
Open reproofs are better than secret love.
6 Mwaminifu ni jeraha zilizosababishwa na rafiki, lakini adui anaweza kukubusu kwa kuomba radhi mno.
The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous 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 full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet.
8 Ndege anayezurura kutoka kwenye kiota chake ni kama mtu anayepotea sehemu ambayo anaishi.
As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place.
9 Pafumu na manukato huufanya moyo ufurahi, lakini utamu wa rafiki ni bora kuliko ushauri wake.
The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities.
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.
Your own friend, and your father's friend, forsake not; and when you are in distress go not into your brother's house: better is a friend [that is] near than a brother living far off.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na busara, moyo wangu ufurahi; kisha nitamjibu yule anayenidhihaki.
Son, be wise, that your heart may rejoice; and remove you from yourself reproachful words.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huiona taabu na kujificha mwenyewe, lakini mjinga huendelea mbele na kuteseka kwa ajili ya taabu.
A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished.
13 vazi kama mwenyewe anaweka pesa kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni; lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa malaya.
Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods.
14 Anayempa jirani yake baraka kwa sauti ya juu mapema asubuhi, baraka hiyo itafikiriwa kuwa laana!
Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him].
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama siku ya manyunyu ya mvua ya daima;
On a stormy day drops [of rain] drive a man out of his house; so also does a railing woman [drive a man] out of his own house.
16 kumzuia ni kama kuuzuia upepo, au kujaribu kushika mafuta kwa mkono wako wa kulia.
The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
17 Chuma hunoa chuma; kwa njia ile ile; mtu humnoa rafiki yake.
Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance.
18 Yule anayeutunza mtini atakula matunda yake, na yule mwenye kumlinda bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
He that plants a fig tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honored.
19 Kama maji yanavyoakisi taswira ya sura ya mtu, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwaksi mtu.
As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men.
20 Kama kuzimu na Uharibifu havitosheki, ndivyo yalivyo macho ya mtu hayawezi kutosheka. (Sheol h7585)
Hell and destruction are not filled; so also are the eyes of men insatiable. [He that fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongue.] (Sheol h7585)
21 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuru ni kwa dhahabu; na mtu hujaribiwa anaposifiwa.
Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. The heart of the transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge.
22 Hata kama utamponda mpumbavu kwa mchI- pamoja na nafaka- bado upumbavu wake hautatoka.
Though you scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, you will [still] in no wise remove his folly from him.
23 Hakikisha unajua hali ya makundi yako na ujishughulishe juu ya makundi yako,
Do you thoroughly know the number of your flock, and pay attention to your herds.
24 maana utajiri haudumu daima. Je taji hudumu kwa vizazi vyote?
For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation.
25 Majani huondoka na ukuaji mpya huonekana na milima ya chakula cha mifugo hukusanywa ndani.
Take care of the herbage in the field, and you shall cut grass, and gather the mountain hay;
26 Wanakondoo watakupatia mavazi yako na mbuzi watakupatia gharama ya shamba.
that you may have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that you may have lambs.
27 Kutakuwa na maziwa ya mbuzi kwa chakula chako- chakula kwa kaya yako- na chakula kwa watumishi wako wasichana.
[My] son, you have from me words very useful for your life, and for the life of your servants.
