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 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 the sand 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 is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
5 Ni bora karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichwa.
Open rebuke is better than secret love.
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.
The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; 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 from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
9 Pafumu na manukato huufanya moyo ufurahi, lakini utamu wa rafiki ni bora kuliko ushauri wake.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’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.
Thy own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na busara, moyo wangu ufurahi; kisha nitamjibu yule anayenidhihaki.
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer 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; 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 that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for adulteress.
14 Anayempa jirani yake baraka kwa sauti ya juu mapema asubuhi, baraka hiyo itafikiriwa kuwa laana!
He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama siku ya manyunyu ya mvua ya daima;
A continual dropping in 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.
Whoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which betrayeth itself.
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 of it: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19 Kama maji yanavyoakisi taswira ya sura ya mtu, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwaksi mtu.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20 Kama kuzimu na Uharibifu havitosheki, ndivyo yalivyo macho ya mtu hayawezi kutosheka. (Sheol h7585)
Hell and destruction 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.
As the refining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
22 Hata kama utamponda mpumbavu kwa mchI- pamoja na nafaka- bado upumbavu wake hautatoka.
Though thou shouldest crush a fool in a mortar among grain with a pestle, yet his foolishness will not 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 are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
25 Majani huondoka na ukuaji mpya huonekana na milima ya chakula cha mifugo hukusanywa ndani.
The plant appeareth, and the tender grass showeth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
26 Wanakondoo watakupatia mavazi yako na mbuzi watakupatia gharama ya shamba.
The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27 Kutakuwa na maziwa ya mbuzi kwa chakula chako- chakula kwa kaya yako- na chakula kwa watumishi wako wasichana.
And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for maintenance for thy maidens.
