Proverbs 26

1 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool.

1 Kama theluji wakati wa kiangazi au mvua wakati wa mavuno, ndivyo asivyostahili heshima mpumbavu.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

2 Kama shomoro apigapigavyo mabawa yake au mbayuwayu katika kuruka kwake kasi, ndivyo ilivyo laana isiyo na sababu haimpati mtu.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

3 Mjeledi kwa farasi, lijamu kwa punda, nayo fimbo kwa migongo ya wapumbavu!

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.

4 Usimjibu mpumbavu sawasawa na upumbavu wake, ama wewe mwenyewe utakuwa kama yeye.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.

5 Mjibu mpumbavu sawasawa na upumbavu wake, ama atakuwa mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe.

6 Like cutting off one’s own feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool.

6 Kama vile ilivyo kujikata miguu au kunywa hasara, ndivyo ilivyo kutuma ujumbe kwa mkono wa mpumbavu.

7 Like lame legs hanging limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

7 Kama miguu ya kiwete inavyoningʼinia ndivyo ilivyo mithali katika kinywa cha mpumbavu.

8 Like binding a stone into a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

8 Kama kufunga jiwe kwenye kombeo, ndivyo ilivyo kumpa mpumbavu heshima.

9 Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

9 Kama mwiba kwenye mkono wa mlevi ndivyo ilivyo mithali kinywani mwa mpumbavu.

10 Like an archer who wounds at random is he who hires a fool or passerby.

10 Kama mpiga upinde ambaye hujeruhi ovyo, ndivyo alivyo yeye aajiriye mpumbavu au yeyote apitaye njiani.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

11 Kama mbwa ayarudiavyo matapiko yake, ndivyo mpumbavu arudiavyo upumbavu wake.

12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

12 Je, unamwona mtu ajionaye mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe? Liko tumaini zaidi kwa mpumbavu kuliko kwake.

13 The slacker says, “A lion is in the road! A fierce lion roams the public square!”

13 Mvivu husema, “Yuko simba barabarani, simba mkali anazunguka mitaa!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.

14 Kama vile mlango ugeukavyo kwenye bawaba zake, ndivyo mvivu ajigeuzavyo kitandani mwake.

15 The slacker buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

15 Mtu mvivu hutumbukiza mkono wake kwenye sahani, naye huchoka kuupeleka kwenye kinywa chake.

16 The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.

16 Mtu mvivu ni mwenye hekima machoni pake mwenyewe, kuliko watu saba wawezao kujibu kwa busara.

17 Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.

17 Kama yeye amkamataye mbwa kwa masikio, ndivyo alivyo mtu apitaye njiani na kujiingiza kwenye ugomvi usiomhusu.

18 Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows,

18 Kama mtu mwendawazimu atupaye vijinga vya moto au mishale ya kufisha,

19 so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”

19 ndivyo alivyo mtu amdanganyaye jirani yake na kusema, “Nilikuwa nikifanya mzaha tu!”

20 Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.

20 Bila kuni moto huzimika; pasipo uchongezi ugomvi humalizika.

21 Like charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

21 Kama makaa juu ya makaa yanayowaka, na kama kuni kwenye moto, ndivyo alivyo mtu mgomvi kwa kuchochea ugomvi.

22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels that go down into the inmost being.

22 Maneno ya mchongezi ni kama chakula kitamu; huingia sehemu za ndani sana za mtu.

23 Like glaze covering an earthen vessel are burning lips and a wicked heart.

23 Kama rangi ingʼaayo iliyopakwa kwenye vyombo vya udongo ndivyo ilivyo midomo laini pamoja na moyo mbaya.

24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.

24 Mtu mwenye nia ya kudhuru wengine hujificha kwa maneno ya midomo yake, lakini moyoni mwake huficha udanganyifu.

25 When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart.

25 Ingawa maneno yake huvutia, usimwamini, kwa maana machukizo saba hujaza moyo wake.

26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

26 Nia yake ya kudhuru wengine inaweza kufichwa na udanganyifu, lakini uovu wake utafichuliwa kwenye kusanyiko.

27 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.

27 Kama mtu akichimba shimo, atatumbukia ndani yake, kama mtu akivingirisha jiwe, litamrudia.

28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

28 Ulimi wa uongo, huwachukia wale unaowaumiza, nacho kinywa cha kujipendekeza hutenda uharibifu.