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 bringeth forth.
2 Mtu mwingine akusifu na wala si kinywa chako mwenyewe, mgeni na wala si midomo yako mwenyewe.
Let another 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 the sand [is] heavy, And the anger of a fool Is heavier than they both.
4 Kuna ukatili wenye ghadhabu kali na mafuriko ya hasira, lakini ni nani anayeweza kusimama mbele ya wivu?
Fury [is] fierce, and anger [is] overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?
5 Ni bora karipio la wazi kuliko upendo uliofichwa.
Better [is] open reproof than hidden love.
6 Mwaminifu ni jeraha zilizosababishwa na rafiki, lakini adui anaweza kukubusu kwa kuomba radhi mno.
Faithful are the wounds of a lover, And abundant 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.
A satiated soul treadeth down a honeycomb, And [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 wandering from her nest, So [is] a man wandering 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, And the sweetness of one's friend — from counsel of the soul.
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 the friend of thy father, forsake not, And the house of thy brother enter not In a day of thy calamity, Better [is] a near neighbour than a brother afar off.
11 Mwanangu, uwe na busara, moyo wangu ufurahi; kisha nitamjibu yule anayenidhihaki.
Be wise, my son, and rejoice my heart. And I return my reproacher a word.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huiona taabu na kujificha mwenyewe, lakini mjinga huendelea mbele na kuteseka kwa ajili ya taabu.
The prudent hath seen the evil, he is hidden, The simple have passed on, they are punished.
13 vazi kama mwenyewe anaweka pesa kama dhamana kwa deni la mgeni; lichukue kama anaweka dhamana kwa malaya.
Take his garment, when a stranger hath been surety, And for a strange woman pledge it.
14 Anayempa jirani yake baraka kwa sauti ya juu mapema asubuhi, baraka hiyo itafikiriwa kuwa laana!
Whoso is saluting his friend with a loud voice, In the morning rising early, A light thing it is reckoned to him.
15 Mke mgomvi ni kama siku ya manyunyu ya mvua ya daima;
A continual dropping in a day of rain, And a woman of contentions are alike,
16 kumzuia ni kama kuuzuia upepo, au kujaribu kushika mafuta kwa mkono wako wa kulia.
Whoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.
17 Chuma hunoa chuma; kwa njia ile ile; mtu humnoa rafiki yake.
Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.
18 Yule anayeutunza mtini atakula matunda yake, na yule mwenye kumlinda bwana wake ataheshimiwa.
The keeper of a fig-tree eateth its fruit, And the preserver of his master is honoured.
19 Kama maji yanavyoakisi taswira ya sura ya mtu, ndivyo hivyo moyo wa mtu humwaksi mtu.
As [in] water the face [is] to face, So the heart of man to man.
20 Kama kuzimu na Uharibifu havitosheki, ndivyo yalivyo macho ya mtu hayawezi kutosheka. (Sheol h7585)
Sheol and destruction are not satisfied, And the eyes of man are not satisfied. (Sheol h7585)
21 Kalibu ni kwa fedha na tanuru ni kwa dhahabu; na mtu hujaribiwa anaposifiwa.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And a man according to his praise.
22 Hata kama utamponda mpumbavu kwa mchI- pamoja na nafaka- bado upumbavu wake hautatoka.
If thou dost beat the foolish in a mortar, Among washed things — with a pestle, His folly turneth not aside from off him.
23 Hakikisha unajua hali ya makundi yako na ujishughulishe juu ya makundi yako,
Know well the face of thy flock, Set thy heart to the droves,
24 maana utajiri haudumu daima. Je taji hudumu kwa vizazi vyote?
For riches [are] not to the age, Nor a crown to generation and generation.
25 Majani huondoka na ukuaji mpya huonekana na milima ya chakula cha mifugo hukusanywa ndani.
Revealed was the hay, and seen the tender grass, And gathered the herbs of mountains.
26 Wanakondoo watakupatia mavazi yako na mbuzi watakupatia gharama ya shamba.
Lambs [are] for thy clothing, And the price of the field [are] he-goats,
27 Kutakuwa na maziwa ya mbuzi kwa chakula chako- chakula kwa kaya yako- na chakula kwa watumishi wako wasichana.
And a sufficiency of goats' milk [is] for thy bread, For bread to thy house, and life to thy damsels!
