Mithali 27
1 Usijisifu kwa ajili ya kesho, maana hujui siku italeta nini.
Boast not thyself of to-morrow; 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 thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine 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 is weighty; 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 cruel, and anger overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Ni bora karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichwa.
Better is open rebuke Than love kept concealed.
6 Mwaminifu ni jeraha zilizosababishwa na rafiki, lakini adui anaweza kukubusu kwa kuomba radhi mno.
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7 Mtu aliyekula na kushiba hulikataa hata sega la asali, bali kwa mtu mwenye njaa, kila kitu kichungu ni kitamu.
He who is fed to the full loatheth the honeycomb; But to the hungry any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Ndege anayezurura kutoka kwenye kiota chake ni kama mtu anayepotea sehemu ambayo anaishi.
As a bird that wandereth from its nest, So is a man who wandereth from his place.
9 Pafumu na manukato huufanya moyo ufurahi, lakini utamu wa rafiki ni bora kuliko ushauri wake.
Oil and perfume gladden the heart; Sweet also is one's friend by hearty 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.
Thine own friend and thy father's friend forsake not; And go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity. Better is a neighbor that is near, than a brother far off.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na busara, moyo wangu ufurahi; kisha nitamjibu yule anayenidhihaki.
Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, 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.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; 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 who is surety for another; Yea, take a pledge of him who is bound for a stranger.
14 Anayempa jirani yake baraka kwa sauti ya juu mapema asubuhi, baraka hiyo itafikiriwa kuwa laana!
He who blesseth his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early for it, It shall be accounted to him as a curse.
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama siku ya manyunyu ya mvua ya daima;
A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a quarrelsome wife are alike.
16 kumzuia ni kama kuuzuia upepo, au kujaribu kushika mafuta kwa mkono wako wa kulia.
He who restraineth her restraineth the wind; And his right hand layeth hold of oil.
17 Chuma hunoa chuma; kwa njia ile ile; mtu humnoa rafiki yake.
Iron sharpeneth iron; So one man sharpeneth the face of another.
18 Yule anayeutunza mtini atakula matunda yake, na yule mwenye kumlinda bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
He that watcheth the fig-tree shall eat its fruit; So he that is careful for his master shall come to honor.
19 Kama maji yanavyoakisi taswira ya sura ya mtu, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwaksi mtu.
As in water face answereth to face, So doth the heart of man to man.
20 Kama kuzimu na Uharibifu havitosheki, ndivyo yalivyo macho ya mtu hayawezi kutosheka. (Sheol h7585)
The realms of the dead are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuru ni kwa dhahabu; na mtu hujaribiwa anaposifiwa.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; So let a man be to the mouth that giveth him praise.
22 Hata kama utamponda mpumbavu kwa mchI- pamoja na nafaka- bado upumbavu wake hautatoka.
Though thou shouldst beat a fool in a mortar, Among bruised wheat, with a pestle, Yet will not his folly depart from him.
23 Hakikisha unajua hali ya makundi yako na ujishughulishe juu ya makundi yako,
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds!
24 maana utajiri haudumu daima. Je taji hudumu kwa vizazi vyote?
For riches last not for ever; Not even a crown endureth from generation to generation.
25 Majani huondoka na ukuaji mpya huonekana na milima ya chakula cha mifugo hukusanywa ndani.
The hay disappeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbage of the mountains is gathered in.
26 Wanakondoo watakupatia mavazi yako na mbuzi watakupatia gharama ya shamba.
The lambs are thy clothing, And the goats the price of thy field.
27 Kutakuwa na maziwa ya mbuzi kwa chakula chako- chakula kwa kaya yako- na chakula kwa watumishi wako wasichana.
There is goat's milk enough for thy food, For the food of thy household, And for the sustenance of thy maidens.
