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 the sand weighty; but a fool's vexation is heavier than they 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 love that is hidden.
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 importunate.
7 Mtu aliyekula na kushiba hulikataa hata sega la asali, bali kwa mtu mwenye njaa, kila kitu kichungu ni kitamu.
The full soul loatheth a 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.
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity; 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 taunteth me.
12 Mtu mwenye busara huiona taabu na kujificha mwenyewe, lakini mjinga huendelea mbele na kuteseka kwa ajili ya taabu.
A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless 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 hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
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.
He that would hide her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand 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.
Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and 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)
The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; so the eyes of man are never satiated. (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, and a man is tried by his praise.
22 Hata kama utamponda mpumbavu kwa mchI- pamoja na nafaka- bado upumbavu wake hautatoka.
Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, yet will not his foolishness 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 unto all generations?
25 Majani huondoka na ukuaji mpya huonekana na milima ya chakula cha mifugo hukusanywa ndani.
When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in;
26 Wanakondoo watakupatia mavazi yako na mbuzi watakupatia gharama ya shamba.
The lambs will be for thy clothing, and the goats the price for a field.
27 Kutakuwa na maziwa ya mbuzi kwa chakula chako- chakula kwa kaya yako- na chakula kwa watumishi wako wasichana.
And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.
