Mithali 27
1 Usijisifu kwa ajili ya kesho, maana hujui siku italeta nini.
Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.
2 Mtu mwingine akusifu na wala si kinywa chako mwenyewe, mgeni na wala si midomo yako mwenyewe.
Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; 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 is a burden; but a fool’s provocation 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 overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Ni bora karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichwa.
Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
6 Mwaminifu ni jeraha zilizosababishwa na rafiki, lakini adui anaweza kukubusu kwa kuomba radhi mno.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 Mtu aliyekula na kushiba hulikataa hata sega la asali, bali kwa mtu mwenye njaa, kila kitu kichungu ni kitamu.
A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a 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 wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Pafumu na manukato huufanya moyo ufurahi, lakini utamu wa rafiki ni bora kuliko ushauri wake.
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.
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 forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster. A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na busara, moyo wangu ufurahi; kisha nitamjibu yule anayenidhihaki.
Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huiona taabu na kujificha mwenyewe, lakini mjinga huendelea mbele na kuteseka kwa ajili ya taabu.
A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
13 vazi kama mwenyewe anaweka pesa kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni; lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa malaya.
Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 Anayempa jirani yake baraka kwa sauti ya juu mapema asubuhi, baraka hiyo itafikiriwa kuwa laana!
He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama siku ya manyunyu ya mvua ya daima;
A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:
16 kumzuia ni kama kuuzuia upepo, au kujaribu kushika mafuta kwa mkono wako wa kulia.
restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Chuma hunoa chuma; kwa njia ile ile; mtu humnoa rafiki yake.
Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.
18 Yule anayeutunza mtini atakula matunda yake, na yule mwenye kumlinda bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.
19 Kama maji yanavyoakisi taswira ya sura ya mtu, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwaksi mtu.
Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.
20 Kama kuzimu na Uharibifu havitosheki, ndivyo yalivyo macho ya mtu hayawezi kutosheka. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuru ni kwa dhahabu; na mtu hujaribiwa anaposifiwa.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.
22 Hata kama utamponda mpumbavu kwa mchI- pamoja na nafaka- bado upumbavu wake hautatoka.
Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23 Hakikisha unajua hali ya makundi yako na ujishughulishe juu ya makundi yako,
Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds,
24 maana utajiri haudumu daima. Je taji hudumu kwa vizazi vyote?
for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 Majani huondoka na ukuaji mpya huonekana na milima ya chakula cha mifugo hukusanywa ndani.
The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 Wanakondoo watakupatia mavazi yako na mbuzi watakupatia gharama ya shamba.
The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
27 Kutakuwa na maziwa ya mbuzi kwa chakula chako- chakula kwa kaya yako- na chakula kwa watumishi wako wasichana.
There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.
