Mithali 27
1 Usijisifu kwa ajili ya kesho, maana hujui siku italeta nini.
Make no boast for thyself of the coming day; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2 Mtu mwingine akusifu na wala si kinywa chako mwenyewe, mgeni na wala si midomo yako mwenyewe.
Let another man 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 hath heaviness, and the sand, weight; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them.
4 Kuna ukatili wenye ghadhabu kali na mafuriko ya hasira, lakini ni nani anayeweza kusimama mbele ya wivu?
Fury hath its cruelty, and anger its overwhelming power; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Ni bora karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichwa.
Better is open reproof than concealed love.
6 Mwaminifu ni jeraha zilizosababishwa na rafiki, lakini adui anaweza kukubusu kwa kuomba radhi mno.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but deceptive are the kisses of an enemy.
7 Mtu aliyekula na kushiba hulikataa hata sega la asali, bali kwa mtu mwenye njaa, kila kitu kichungu ni kitamu.
The satisfied soul treadeth under foot fine honey; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8 Ndege anayezurura kutoka kwenye kiota chake ni kama mtu anayepotea sehemu ambayo anaishi.
As a bird that wandereth away from her nest, so is a man that wandereth away from his place.
9 Pafumu na manukato huufanya moyo ufurahi, lakini utamu wa rafiki ni bora kuliko ushauri wake.
Oil and perfume cause the heart to rejoice, and so do the sweet words of a friend more than one's own counsel.
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, thou must not forsake; but into thy brother's house enter not on the day of thy calamity: better is a near neighbor than a distant brother.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na busara, moyo wangu ufurahi; kisha nitamjibu yule anayenidhihaki.
Become wise, my son, and cause my heart to rejoice, that I may give an answer to him that reproacheth me.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huiona taabu na kujificha mwenyewe, lakini mjinga huendelea mbele na kuteseka kwa ajili ya taabu.
The prudent foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
13 vazi kama mwenyewe anaweka pesa kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni; lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa malaya.
Take his garment, for he became surety for a stranger; and on account of an alien woman take a pledge of him.
14 Anayempa jirani yake baraka kwa sauti ya juu mapema asubuhi, baraka hiyo itafikiriwa kuwa laana!
When one saluteth his friend with a loud voice, when rising early in the morning, it will be counted a curse to him.
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama siku ya manyunyu ya mvua ya daima;
A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
16 kumzuia ni kama kuuzuia upepo, au kujaribu kushika mafuta kwa mkono wako wa kulia.
He that would conceal her might conceal the wind, and as [fragrant] oil on his right hand, which would betray itself.
17 Chuma hunoa chuma; kwa njia ile ile; mtu humnoa rafiki yake.
Iron is sharpened by iron: so doth a man sharpen himself on the countenance of his friend.
18 Yule anayeutunza mtini atakula matunda yake, na yule mwenye kumlinda bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
Whoso guardeth the fig-tree will eat its fruit: so he that watcheth over his master will be honored.
19 Kama maji yanavyoakisi taswira ya sura ya mtu, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwaksi mtu.
As the water [showeth] to the face the [reflected] face: so doth the heart of man show itself to man.
20 Kama kuzimu na Uharibifu havitosheki, ndivyo yalivyo macho ya mtu hayawezi kutosheka. (Sheol h7585)
The nether world and the place of corruption are never satisfied: so are the eyes of man never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuru ni kwa dhahabu; na mtu hujaribiwa anaposifiwa.
[As] the fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: so is a man [proved] according to his praise.
22 Hata kama utamponda mpumbavu kwa mchI- pamoja na nafaka- bado upumbavu wake hautatoka.
Though thou shouldst pound the fool in a mortar, in the midst of grains of wheat with a pestle: still would his folly not depart from him.
23 Hakikisha unajua hali ya makundi yako na ujishughulishe juu ya makundi yako,
Endeavor to know well the appearance of thy flocks, direct thy attention to thy herds;
24 maana utajiri haudumu daima. Je taji hudumu kwa vizazi vyote?
For property endureth not for ever, nor doth the crown remain for all generations.
25 Majani huondoka na ukuaji mpya huonekana na milima ya chakula cha mifugo hukusanywa ndani.
When the grass is past, young verdure showeth itself, and then are gathered the herbs of the mountains.
26 Wanakondoo watakupatia mavazi yako na mbuzi watakupatia gharama ya shamba.
The sheep are for thy clothing, and he-goats are the purchase-price of a field.
27 Kutakuwa na maziwa ya mbuzi kwa chakula chako- chakula kwa kaya yako- na chakula kwa watumishi wako wasichana.
And thou wilt have enough of goats' milk for thy food, for the food of thy household, and the support for thy maidens.
