Bhalihoyi bhalimi abho bhilomelaga umugufumila mulilima lyabho. Uumo agang’wila ung’wiye, ‘dujage dugalime kunguno ilikanza lya gulima lyashigaga.’ Ung’wiye ushosha, ‘igelelilwe dugandye gulima ng’hana, kugiki nulu dugakela dugupandika nulu jigehu, kunguno iligembe lidalomalomaga.’ Hunagwene abhanhu bhagayombaga giki, ‘Igembe lidalembaga.’

Ulusumo lunulo, lugalenganijiyagwa kulikanza ilo abhanhu bhagatumamaga milimo bho gutumila Igembe mpaga bhapandika matwajo mingi, umuwikaji bhobho.

Abhanhu bhenabho, bhadebhile igiki ilegembe luli lumeng’ho lutale lo gutumama milimo umu wikaji bhobho, pye nu mu Africa ngima. Kueneza Injili kwa Methali ukurasa 13.

 ‘Kueneza Injili kwa methali’ jili jitabho ijo jigandikwa na Padri Donald Sybertz, M.M., na Padri Joseph Healey, M.M., ijojigachapishiwa na Benedictine Pubhications Ndanda – Peramiho, 1984.

Abhalimi bhenabho, bhagalitumilaga iligembe linilo, bho bhukamu bhutale, mpaga bhapandika matwajo mingi, umukikalile kabho. Amatwajo gabho genayo, gagabhambilijaga abhanhu bhenabho ugujibheja chiza ikaya jabho, kunguno ya gulitumila chiza ilimbe linilo. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagayombaga giki, ‘Igembe lidalembaga.’

Ulusumo lunulo, lolanga bhanhu higulya ya kudebha igiki, imilimo yose iyo bhagaitumamaga ibhize midoo nulu mitale, ili na solobho ya ying’wene ukubhutumami bhobho, nuku miso ga ng’wa Mulungu. Gitumo umo iligembe lidalembelaga, uguzunya go kuli Mulungu, nago gulalembaga.

Ulu dunzunya Weyi dugupandika matwajo, ayo galigawiza ijinagunzunya Yesu na kumsumbila Weyi umumioyo ise. Giko lulu, dugupandika mhela ya bhupanga ubho bhudashilaga.

Mwanzo 3:17.

Wagalia 6:7.

Yohane 6:29.

KISWAHILI: JEMBE HALIDANGANYI.

Walikuwepo wakulima waliokuwa wakiongea juu ya kazi yao ya kulima. Mmoja alimwambia mwenzake, ‘twende tukalime kwa sababu wakati wa kulima umefika.’ Mwenzake alijibu, ‘inafaa kweli tukalime, kwa vile hata tukikosa mazao mengi, tupata walau kidogo, kwa sababu Jembe halisemi uongo.’ Ndiyo maana watu wakaanza kusema kwamba, ‘Jembe halidanganyi.’

Methali hiyo, hulinganishwa kwenye wakati ule ambao watu hufanya kazi za kilimo kwa kutumia Jembe, mpaka wanafanikiwa kupata mazao mengi zaidi maishani mwao.

Watu hao, wanafahamu kwamba Jembe ni alama maalum ya kazi kwao na kwa Africa nzima, kama walivyoandika watafiti Padre Donald Sybertz, M.M., na Padre Joseph Healey M.M., kwenye kitabu cha ‘Kueneza Injili kwa methali’, ukurasa 13. Kitabu hicho kilichapishwa na Benedictine Pubhications Ndanda – Peramiho, 1984.

Wakulima hao, hulifanyia kazi Jembe hilo kwa bidii kubwa mpaka wanafanikiwa kupata mapato mengi, katika maisha yao. Mafanikio yao hayo, huwasaidia watu hao, katika kuziendeleza vizuri familia zao, kwa sababu ya wao kulitumia vizuri Jembe hilo. Ndiyo maana watu husema kwmba, ‘Jembe halidanganyi.’

Methali hiyo, hufundisha watu juu ya kuelewa kwamba, kazi yoyote wanayoifanya iwe ndogo au kubwa, ina faida ya pekee katika utekelezaji wa majukumu yao, na machoni pa Mungu. Kama vile Jembe lisivyodaganya, imani kwa Mungu, nayo haidanganyi.

Kwa maana hiyo, tukimwamini, tutapata mafanikio ambayo ni mazuri katika kumwamini Yesu na kumpokea Yeye mioyoni mwetu. Hivyo basi, tutapata thawabhu ya uzima wa milele.

Mwanzo 3:17. “Kwa uchungu utakula mazao yako siku zote za maisha yako.”

Mithali 14:23. ‘Katika kila kazi mna faida, bali maneno ya midomo huleta hasara tu.”

Wagalia 6:7. “Alichopanda mtu ndicho atakachovuna.”

Yohane 6:29. “Hii ndiyo kazi anayotaka Mungu umuifanye: kumwamini yule aliyenituma.”

ENGLISH: THE HOE DOES NOT LIE.

The source of this proverb is a hoe and two farmers. Two farmers were in conversation, one of them said, we need to go farm because it is the farming season and the second one agreed by saying that yes, we have to go because we can get something from the farm because ‘the hoe does not lie.’

This proverb can be comparable to people who engage in seasoned activities. These people, for example, farmers, know when and how to plant their crops. In Africa, for example, agriculture being the backbone of the economy, people need to spend their farming season accordingly in order to make sure that they have enough food to feed their families. The awareness of Africans in farming activities is also shown in research works by Fr. Donald Sybertz, MM, and Fr. Joseph Healey MM, in the book Kueneza Injili kwa Methali ‘Spreading the Gospel in Proverbs’, page 13. The book was published by Benedictine Publications, Ndanda – Peramiho, 1984.

The farmers work hard using their hoes in order to earn living and their success helps to improve their families’ welfare.

This proverb teaches people to understand that whatever work they do, however small it might be, has a benefit in future. It will help them achieve something better in life. Just as the hoe does not lie, faith in God too does not lie people. If people believe in Him, they will succeed in life.

Genesis 3:17 “ Through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life”

 Proverbs 14:23: “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty”

Galatians 6: 7: “A man reaps what he sows”

John 6:29: “ The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent”

Imbuki ya lusumo lunulo, yingilile kubhanhu bhabhili abho bhiyolekejaga sonda. Uumo agang’olekeja ung’wiye isonda yiniyo, bhogunsonela bho lwala lokwe.

Amafumilo gaho, uyo olekejiyagwa isonda yiniyo, agalola lwala lo ng’olekeja okwe, bho gukija ugulola uko alisonelwa. Hunagwene ung’olekeja o sonda ng’wunuyo, agang’wila giki, ‘nalukolekeja sonda (ng’weji) walola lwala.’ Kueneza Injili kwa Methali, bhukurasa bho 6.

Iyiniyo yandikwa umujitabho ja ‘kueneza Injili kwa methali’ ijo jandikwa na Padri Donald Sybertz, M.M., na Padri Joseph Healey, M.M., Bujora, Mwanza, Tanzania, 20, Februari, 1984. Ijojigachapishiwa na Benedictine Pubhications Ndanda – Peramiho, 1984.

Ulusumo lunulo, lugalenganijiyagwa kubhusabhi wingi ubho bhulihoyi umukajile ka makabhila gise, ubho abhakengeji bhalolecha ubho bhabhubhulucha. Aliyo aise dugakamanaga na gukatumila kapande kadoo noyi guti lwala. Ukijigemelo, umulusumo lunulo, bhulihoyi bhung’hana umu likabhila lya jisuguma (nonono lipande lya Shinyanga ni Mwanza umu Si ya Tanzania, bhagandika abhakengaji bhenabho.

Bhulihoyi bhusabhi, na solobho ya kikalile, kabhila, na kajile (guti Sonda). Aliyo lulu, dugadebhaga, nulu dugamanaga na gutumila kapande kadoni duhu (guti lwala).

Giko nu mu Biblia nu muBhulangwa bho ng’wa Yesu Kristo, galihoyi (magali na malihu, matale na mashimu, Waefeso 3:18. (guti sonda). Aliyo dugamagana nulu dugadebhaga kapande kadoni duhu (guti lwala).

Ulusumo lunulo, lolanga bhanhu higulya ya gwita bhukengeji umu kajile na kikalile kabho, ubhogudula guidebha imijilo iyo ilinabhusabhi bho wiza, ugulunganyiwa nu bhuzunya bhobho chiza, umu Likelesia.

Ijinagongeja, ulusumo lunulo, lolanga bhanhu higulya ya kuisoma IBiblia bho bhukamu na chiza, kugiki bhadule gugudebha uguzunya ugogubhatongela umubhupanga ubho bhudashilaga.

KISWAHILI: NILIKUONESHA NYOTA (MWEZI) UMEANGALIA KIDOLE.

Chanzo cha methali hiyo, chatokea kwenye watu wawili waliokuwa wakioneshana nyota. Mmoja alimuonesha nyota hiyo mwenzake kwa kutumia kidole chake.

Matokeo yake, yule aliyeoneshwa aliangalia kidole tu, badala ya kuangalia kule ambako kidole kilionesha. Ndiyo maana huyo aliyemwonesha mwenzake hiyo nyota, alimwambia kwamba, ‘nilikuonesha nyota (mwezi) umeangalia kidole!’ Kueneza Injili kwa Methali ukurasa wa 6.

Hayo yanapatikana katika kitabu hicho cha ‘kueneza Injili kwa methali’ kilichoandikwa na Padre Donald Sybertz, M.M., na Padre Joseph Healey, M.M. Bujora, Mwanza, Tanzania, 20, Februari, 1984. Kilichochapishwa na Benedictine Publications Ndanda – Peramiho, 1984.

Methali hiyo, hulinganishwa na utajiri mwingi uliomo kwenye tamaduni za makabila yetu, ambazo watafiti huonesha walivyovigundua. Lakini sisi tunafahamu sehemu ndogo sana kama kidole.

Kwa mfano, katika methali hiyo kuna ukweli maalum katika kabila la kisukuma (hasa sehemu za Shinyanga na Mwanza katika nchi ya Tanzania), wanaeleza watafiti hao.

Kuna utajiri na thamani za utamaduni, lugha, mila na desturi (ni kama nyota). Lakini tunatambua, au tunafahamu na kutumia sehemu ndogo tu (ni kama kidole).

Vile vile katika Biblia na mafundisho ya Yesu Kristo, kuna “mapana na marefu, kwa kima na kina,” Waefeso 3:18. (ni kama nyota). Lakini tunatambua, au tunafahamu na kutumia sehemu ndogo tu (ni kama kidole).

Methali hiyo, hufundisha watu juu ya kufanya utafiti katika tamaduni zao, wa kuwawezesha kuzifahamu na kuzienzi mila zilizonjema, ambazo ni hazina, kwa ajili ya kutamadunisha vizuri katika Kanisa.

Zaidi ya hayo, methali hiyo, hufundisha watu juu ya kuisoma Biblia kwa bidii na vizuri, ili waweze kuielewa inavyotakiwa imani inayoongoza kwenye uzima wa milele.

ENGLISH: I POINTED OUT TO YOU THE STARS (THE MOON) AND ALL YOU SAW WAS THE TIP OF MY FINGER.

The cradle of the overhead proverb comes from two people who were showing each other stars, by pointing a finger to them. One pointed to the other star with his finger.

As a result, the other who had been shown, only looked at the finger, instead of looking at where the finger pointed. That is why the one who showed the star to that fellow told him, ‘I pointed out to you the star (the moon) and all you saw was the tip of my finger!’ ‘Kueneza Injili kwa Methali,’ page 6.

The details are found in the above referred book entitled ‘Kueneza Injili Kwa Methali’ which means, ‘Spreading the Gospel through Proverbs’, that was written by Father Donald Sybertz, M.M., and Father Joseph Healey, M.M. Bujora, Mwanza, Tanzania, 20, February, 1984. It was published by Benedictine Publications Ndanda – Peramiho, 1984.

In the history of the Sukuma people in Tanzania in East Africa (and African people everywhere), there is a great richness and wealth in their culture, language, traditions and customs, (like the vast richness of the stars). But people recognize, understand and use only a very small part of this treasure, (like seeing only the tip of one’s finger).

Similarly in the Bible, and the teachings of Jesus Christ, there is “the breadth and length and height and depth” (Ephesians 3:18), (like the vast richness of the stars). But people recognize, understand and use only a very small part of this treasure, (like seeing only the tip of one’s finger).

This Sukuma proverb also teaches that, sometimes people can focus on the wrong part, or point of a particular subject, such as African culture, that is, look at the tip of the finger of the culture rather than its stars.

The challenge of inculturation and contextualization is to go beyond the superficial changes in liturgy and religious symbols to an all-encompassing pastoral inculturation that has African flesh and blood.

Similarly, people can focus on the wrong part or point of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ. The challenge is to go beyond the rules and regulations of the Bible to a complete transformation in the Christian life.

This Sukuma proverb also hints at the vast treasure and many possibilities in using African proverbs, and other forms of African oral literature and oral communication to preach the gospel and develop an inculturated and contextualized African Christianity.

This is one of the great challenges of inculturation in the Christian Churches in Africa today: to make a correlation between African oral literature and cultural symbols and Christianity, and to express this in pastoral theological reflections and actions that concretely speak to people’s everyday life. This task includes both theology and praxis in developing a functional African Christianity and an applied pastoral inculturation.

 

Imbuki ya lusumo lunulo, ilolile wibhembu bho mva iyo igang’waga magi. Imva yiniyo, igibhelejaga bho gwiyolecha giki iliya wiza ukuli nsugi oyo, kugiki akije uguibadija igiki igang’waga maji. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagayombaga giki, ‘mva nyibheleja huna ng’wi ya magi.’

Ulusumo lunulo, lugalenganijiyagwa kuli munhu uyo ali ng´wibhembu, aliyo ubho mgati adi o wiza, aling´wibheleja duhu, umukikalile kakwe. Umunhu ng’wunuyo, agiyolechaga ukubhanhu giki ali ntengeke, aliyo gashinaga alinkenaguji, umugati yakwe. Uweyi agikalaga bho gwibheleja duhu, kugiki abhanhu bhakije ugumbadija agiki aliobhubhi.

Umunhu ng’wunuyo, agikolaga ni mva yiniyo inyibheleja, aliyo hing’wi ya magi, kunguno nuweyi alina wibhembu bho gwibheleja hanze dulu, umgati yakwe, agiganikaga mihayo ya bhukenaguji, umukikalile kakwe. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagang’wilaga giki, ‘mva nyibheleja huna ng’wi ya magi.’

Ulusumo lunulo, lolanga bhanhu higulya ya guleka gwita mihayo bhubhi, umukikalile kabho, kugiki bhadule gwikala bho mholele na bhichabho, umuwikaji bhobho.

Yohana 12:43.

Luka 6:26.

Luka 11:43.

KISWAHILI: MBWA MNYENYEKEVU NDIYE MNYWAJI WA MAYAI.

Chanzo cha methali hiyo, chaangalia unyenyekevu wa mbwa, ambaye ndiye mnywaji wa mayai. Mbwa huyo, hujionesha kama ni mwema kwa nje tu, ili asijulikane kuwa ndiye mnywaji wa mayai hayo. Ndiyo maana watu husema kwamba, ‘mbwa mnyenyekevu ndiye mnywaji wa mayai.’

Methali hiyo, hulinganishwa kwa mtu yule ambaye ni mnyenyekevu kwa nje, lakini kwa ndani siyo mzuri, maishani mwake. Mtu huyo, ni mpenda sifa kwa kujionesha kuwa yeye ni mwema, lakini kumbe ni mharifu, maishani mwake. Yeye huishi maisha ya kujionesha kuwa ni mwema ili watu wasimtambue kuwa ni mharifu.

Mtu huyo, hufanana na yule mbwa mwenye unyenyekevu wa kujionesha, lakini kumbe ndiye mnywaji wa mayai, kwa sababu naye hujionesha kwa nje kuwa ni mwema lakini kumbe kwa ndani, ndiye mharifu, katika maisha yake. Ndiyo maana watu humwambia kwamba, ‘mbwa mnyenyekevu ndiye mnywaji wa mayai.’

Methali hiyo, hufundisha watu juu ya kuacha kutenda uovu, katika maisha yao, ili waweze kuishi kwa amani na wenzao, maishani mwao.

Yohana 12:43. “Wao walipenda sifa za wanadamu kuliko sifa zitokazo kwa Mungu.”

Luka 6:26. “Ole wenu watu watakapowasifu, kwani ndivyo baba zao walivyowasifu manabii wa uongo.””

Luka 11:43. “Ole wenu Mafarisayo, kwa sababu ninyi mnapenda kuketi viti vya mbele katika masinagogi na kusalimiwa kwa heshima masokoni.”

 

ENGLISH: THE HUMBLE DOG IS THE EGG EATER.

The source of this proverb is the humbleness of a dog that, in fact, is the bad one. This kind of dog will always appear very humble to the extent of not predicting anything bad coming from it. But, as this proverb describes, this type of dogs are even worse than the ones that can demonstrate their theft in public. This is why people came with the proverb that ‘the humble dog is the egg eater.’

 This proverb can be compared to a person who is humble in his/her appearance but the reality is he/she is not. He/she can pretend to be well mannered and therefore good to others while the reality on the ground is, he/she is a bad person. Such people are compared to humble dogs that hide their true colours of being egg eaters.

The proverb teaches people to stop doing bad things in their lives. It also teaches people to live in peace with others.

John 12:43: “They loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

Luke 6:26: “Woe to you when men praise you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

Luke 11:43; “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love to sit in the synagogues and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces.”

Imbuki ya lusumo lunulo, yilolile bhulogu bho gupandika mabhele na bhudamu bho gusabha ng’ombe. Amabhele gali manogu, kunguno umunhu adulile guja ha ng’wa nsab’i ugagalila.

Aliyo lulu, umunhu ng’wunuyo adadulile ugulombe ng’ombe na gwunhiwa ya bhule, umuwikaji bhokwe. Hunagwene abhanhu bhagayombaga giki, ‘mabhele manogu isab’a ilambu.’

Ulusumo lunulo, lugalenganijiyagwa kuli munhu uyo agigulambijaga kutumama milimo yakwe, mpaga ojipandika isabho, umuwikaji bhobho. Umunhu ng’wunuyo, agalimaga bho bhukamu bhutale ahikanza lya mbula, mpaga ojibisha ijiliwa.

Ijiliwa jinijo, agajilyaga na mpaga ojijinja ijingi ijo jigang’wenhelaga sabho. Uweyi agabhalangaga na abhanhu bhakwe ahigulya ya guitumama imilimo yiniyo bho wigulambijaga bhunubho, umukikalile kakwe.

Umunhu ng’wunuyo, alijigemelo ikubhiye ijagutumama milimo bho wigulambija mpaga gupandika matwajo mingi, kunguno ya bhukamu bhokwe, umukikalile kakwe kenako. Hunagwene abhanhu agabhawilaga giki, ‘mabhele manogu isab’a ilambu.’

Ulusumo lunulo, lolanga bhanhu higulya ya gwigulambija gutumama milimo yabho, bho bhukamu bhutale, umukikalile kabho, kugiki bhadule gupandika sabho ijagujibheja chiza ikaya jabho, umuwikaji bhobho.

Waebrania 12:14.

Luka 13:24.

2 Petro 1:10.

KISWAHILI: MAZIWA MARAHISI UTAJIRI MGUMU.

Chanzo cha methali hiyo, chaangalia urahisi wa kupata maziwa, na ugumu wa kupata ng’ombe. Maziwa ni marahisi kwa sababu mtu anaweza kwenda kwa tajiri na kupewa maziwa hayo ambayo huyatumia kama mboga.

Lakini basi, mtu huyo hawezi kwenda kwa tajiri kuomba ng’ombe wa bure na kupewa, maishani mwake. Ndiyo maana watu husema kwamba, ‘maziwa marahisi utajiri mgumu.’

Methali hiyo, hulinganishwa kwa mtu yule ambaye hujibidisha kufanya kazi mpaga anapata mali, maishani mwake. Mtu huyo, hulima kwa bidii kubwa wakati wa mvua, mpaga anafaulu kupata chakula.

Chakula hicho, hukitumia kama chakula kwenye familia yake, na kingine hukiuza kwa ajili ya kujipatia mali. Yeye huwafundisha pia watu wake juu ya kuyatekeleza majukumu yao, kwa bidii hiyo, katika maisha yake.

Mtu huyo, ni mfano wa kuigwa kwa wenzake, katika kujibidisha kufanya kazi mpaga kufikia hatua ya kuyapata mafanikio mengi, kwa sababu ya bidii yake hiyo, katika maisha yake. Ndiyo maana yeye huwaambia watu kwamba, ‘maziwa marahisi utajiri mgumu.’

Methali hiyo, hufundisha watu juu ya kujibidisha kufayatelekeza majukumu yao kwa bidii kubwa, katika maisha yao, ili waweze kupata mafakinio ya kuziendeleza vizuri familia zao, maishani mwao.

Waebrania 12:14. “Tafuteni kwa bidii kuwa na amani na watu wote na huo utakatifu, ambao bila kuwa nao, hakuna mtu atakayemwona Bwana.”

Luka 13:24. “Yesu akawaambia, “Jitahidini kuingia kwa kupitia mlango mwembamba, kwa maana, nawaambia, wengi watajaribu kuingia lakini hawataweza.”

2 Petro 1:10. “Kwa hiyo, ndugu zangu, fanyeni bidii zaidi kuuthibitisha wito wenu na uteule wenu, kwa maana mkifanya hivyo, hamtajikwaa kamwe.”

 

ENGLISH: IT IS EASIER GETTING MILK THAN GETTING A COW.

The source of this proverb is the value of milk in relation to the value of cow. When you visit someone, you can easily get milk as present, but not cow. This is associated with value; milk is less valued while cows have more value. This is why people can say ‘it is easier getting milk than getting a cow.’

This proverb can be compared to a person who works hard to earn a living in his life. This person can spend well the rain season to cultivate his/her farm with an expectation to have good harvest at the end of season. Such a person teaches others that it is easier succeeding in life if deliberate efforts are taken seriously.

The proverb teaches people to work hard to carry out their responsibilities with great efforts in their lives. In so doing they can become very successful in life.

Hebrews 12:14: “Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”

Luke 13:24: “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

2 Peter 1:10: “Therefore, brethren, be the more zealous to confirm your call and election, for if you do this you will nevel fall.”