proverbs

134. LEKAGA KWISHINA BHUBHABHU BHO BHEZE

Research Sponsored by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Imbuki ya lusumo lwenulu ihaiye giki: ikale ibheze jaliningi noi umukaya ga bhanhu. Jikalaga jiguyelaga umunumba yabho. Nose jigayubhaluma ahikanza lya bhujiku na jabalekelaga bhubhabu bhoguyikala bhagwisinaga bhuli makanza.

Nose bhagaiwila giki, bhaleke ugwishina ubhubhabhu bhunubho, nguno bholekwa na bheze duhu. Ijinaguhaya chene, lugabhiza lusumo uluhaile giki, “Lekaga kwishina bhubhabhu bho bheze.”

Lusumo lunulo, lugalinganijiyagwa na makoye ayo gabhita ukubhanhu. Ukwene huguhaya giki, idichiza umunhu ugwikala alizuka imihayo iyoyabhita. Nulu idichiza ugwikala aligizuka amakoye ayo gabhita.

Ubhulangwa bho lusumo lwenunu, bhuli higulya ya kuleka gugwishiwa ngholo na makoye ayo gabhita, nulu mihayo imibhi iyoyabhita. Ilichiza ukulimunhu ugwandya bhupya, uluopandikaga makoye.

Ayubu 3:1-4.

KISWAHILI: ACHA KUJIKUNA MUWASHO WA MENDE

Chanzo cha methali hii husema kwamba, zamani mende walikuwa wengi mno katika familia za watu. Walikuwa wakitembea ndani ya nyumba zao.

Mwishowe wakaanza kuwa wanawauma watu hasa wakati wa usiku, na kuwaachia muwasho. Wakawa wakijikuna kila wakati.

Mwishowe wakawa wakiambiana kwamba, waache kujikuna muwasho huo, kwa sababu uliachwa na mende tu. Kwa kusema hivyo ikapatikana methali isemayo, “Acha kujikuna muwasho wa mende.”

Methali hiyo, hufananishwa na matatizo yaliyopita. Ndiyo kusema kwamba, siyo vizuri kwa mwanadamu kuwa anayakumbuka maneno yaliyopita. Au siyo vizuri kuwa anayakumbuka matatizo yaliyopita.

Fundisho la methali hii, ni juu ya kutokuvunjwa moyo au kukatishwa tamaa na matatizo yaliyopita, au maneno mabaya yaliyopita. Ni vizuri kwa mwanadamu kuanza upya akipata tatizo badala ya kukata tamaa.

“Baada ya jambo hili, Ayubu akafumbua kinywa chake na kuilaani siku ya kuzaliwa kwake. “Siku ya kuzaliwa kwangu na ipotelee mbali, nao usiku ule iliposemekana, ‘Mtoto wa kiume amezaliwa!’ Siku ile na iwe giza, Mungu juu na asiiangalie nayo nuru isiiangazie.” (Ayubu 3:1-4.)

ENGLISH: STOP ITCHING AN ITCH OF BUGS

The source of this proverb says that a long time ago bugs were too many in the families of the people. They were walking in their homes. Eventually they began to bite people at night. People were constantly thinking about the itch of those bugs.

Finally, they were telling each other that they would have to get rid of them because their lives were being controlled by bugs. There was no point of continuing itching an itch of the bugs. In so saying a proverb was found: “Stop itching an itch of bugs.” This proverb is likened to past problems. That is, it is not good for people to continue recalling their previous problems or bad words to the point of losing hope in their lives. It is not good to lose hope because of their past problems. The teaching of this proverb is not to be discouraged by past problems or past bad words. It is good for a person to start regaining new strength positively in his or her life.

“After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed his birthday. “My birthday and go away, and that night it was fitting, ‘The boy is born!’ Let that day be darkness, and let God not look upon it with light to shine.” (Job 3: 1-4.)

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133. OGWIZUKA JILATU JANTEMI HUWAGUJIBHUCHA.

Collected by: Don Sybertz, Scanned by: Cephas Yao Agbemenu, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Mbuki ya lusumo lwenulu lulilola Ntemi. Ikale yali giki, Untemi ulu ubhuka lugendo lo gubhayelela abhazengi bhakwe, ojaga na bhanhu bhagunshindilila. Abhanhu bhenabho habho bhabhuchaga imiligo yakwe.

Uwei untemi oladadililaga igiki aguzwala ki. Ulu miligo yukija ugubhuchiwa, yali giki, uogwiizuka nuyo alaibhuche.

Ichene igahaiyagwa nukubhanhu abhatogilwe nulu abhabhamanilile gubhidika bhangi miligo, abhoyi nulu gugema ugwikumya, yaya.

KISWAHILI: WAKUKUMBUKA VIATU VYA MFALME NDIYE WA KUVIVAA.

Chanzo cha methali hii kinamwangalia Mfalme (mtemi). Hapo zamani Mfalme/Mtemi kama akifunga safari ya kuwatembelea wananchi wake, alienda na watu wakumsindikiza. Watu hao, ndio waliokuwa wakibeba mizigo yake.

Yeye Mfalme alikuwa hajali kwamba atavaa nini. Kama mizigo ikiachwa kubebwa, atakayeikumbuka, ndiye atakayeibeja.

Hali hiyo husemwa pia kwa watu wapendao au waliozoea kuwabebesha wengine mizigo, ambayo wao hawajaribu hata kuigusa.

Luka 11:46“Yesu akamjibu, “Nanyi wataalam wa sheria, ole wenu, kwa sababu mnawatwika watu mizigo mizito ambayo hawawezi kubeba, wala ninyi wenyewe hamwinui hata kidole kimoja kuwasaidia.”

jesus-of-nazareth

ENGLISH: THE ONE WHO REMEMBERS THE SHOES OF THE KING IS THE ONE WHO HAS TO WEAR THEM

The source of that proverb looks at the King. A long time ago the King/Emperor was traveling on a journey to visit his people. He went with some people who wanted to impress him. They were the ones carrying his cargo. The King did not care of what he would wear. If the cargo was left, like shoes, then the person who remembered them was the one who had to wear them. The situation is also said to people who are used to burden others with burdens that they did not even try to touch.

“Jesus answered them, ”You experts of the law, woe to you, because you lay down heavy burdens that you cannot bear, and you yourselves have not even one finger to help.” (Luke 11:46).

132. MONGO NA MBULA

Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Aho kale umongo ni mbula jigihalalika. Umongo gugigimba na gundalaha umuna Mbula, na gung’wila, “Lolaga umo nalinabhudula. Nokalaga minzi hangi nalizwilila na guhuuma bho nguzu mpaga abhanhu bhaliduuma ugunikila.”

Imbula igashosha, “Idishene, ubho nduhu nene ubhebhe udiginhu.” Umongo gukashosha, “Yaya unene gwandija kale nabhiza giki, nokala minzi na nguzu hangi bhanhu bhalongeja gunikumilija noi gufumila miaka igana mpaka igana. Iki bhaliza kulinene bhuli lushiku gudaha minzi. Ehe, ubhebhe ulinabhudula ki?”

Giko lulu, imbula igakolwa na gwiyombela munholo yayo, “ung’wunuyu dubhone na nguzu jakwe!”

Imbula igoya ugutula umongo guuma gete. Umongo gugaiwa ugogwita gupinihala na guhagigisha guliyomba, ugoyi ubhonduhu mbula gudi ginhu.

KISWAHILI: MTO NA MVUA

Hapo zamani siku moja mto na mvua walibishana. Mto ulijivuna na kumdharau mvua na kumwambia, “Tazama nilivyo na uwezo. Nimejaa maji tena ninabubujika na kuporomoka kwa nguvu hata watu wanashindwa kunivuka.”

Mvua akamjibu, “sivyo bila mimi wewe si kitu.” Mto ukajibu “hapa

na mimi tangu zamani nimekuwa hivihivi, nimejaa maji na nguvu tena watu wameendelea kunisifu sana kutoka karne hadi karne. Maana wanakuja kwangu kila siku kuteka maji. Wewe je, una uwezo gani?”

Basi mvua ikakasirika na kujisemea moyoni mwache, “huyu tuone na nguvu zake!” Mvua ikaacha kunyesha mto ukakauka kabisa. Mto ukakosa la kufanya ukasikitika na kuhakikisha ukisema, wenyewe bila mvua si kitu.

ENGLISH: THE STORY OF THE RIVER AND THE RAIN

In the past, one day, the river and the rain disputed. The river boasted and despised the rain and said to it, “Behold how powerful I am. I am full of water and I am flowing and I prevent people from crossing. ”

The rain answered, “Without me you are nothing.” The river replied, “I have always been there in the past. I have been full of water and power. People have continued to praise me from centuries to centuries. For they come to me every day to fetch water. What can you to do?”

Then the rain became angry and said in its heart, “Let us see who has power!” It stopped raining for years. The river had nothing to do. It dried up. It proved by itself the saying that the river without the rain is nothing.

131. NTEMI NG’HWAYA

Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Olihoi Ntemi uyo agabhinha bhanhu bhakwe mitihani kugiki gubhapandika abho bhalinikujo (masala). Imitihani yiniyo yaliibhalolile abhang’wi noi bha walwa, (bhalevi) na abhaduti (bhabehi) bha Njemu. Bhuli igele agalinha ng’ombe iyoilinda.

Untemi agabhawila, “Nang’winhaga ng’ombe iyoilinda bhuliigele. Mlinawiyabhi bho gwita umomutogelilwe ahigulwa ya ng’ombe iyo nang’winhaga.”

Iligele lya bhalevi bhali bhanhu mpungati. Bhagayomba, “UNtemi udinhaga ng’ombe. Duyibhulagagi ing’ombe yiniyo kugiki dulye nyama.” Nghana bhagayibhulaga ing’ombe yiniyo na bhagamfunya ung’wana (indama) bhiyiigwa gwandya guyocha indama yiniyo na yufuada gochiwa inyama yose.

Abhalevi bhenabho bhalibhazunya giki, Untemi agulilumba iligele kulwa guilya inyama yose bho nduhu gulilekeela ipande lyose lyose lya nyama yiniyo. Kunamna yiniyi iligele ligwendelea chiza noi. Nghana bhagayilya ing’ombe ngima nu ng’wana oyo. UNtemi oliabhalolile duhu kugiki abhone nani alina masala.

Abhabehi bha njemu bhali bhatano, bhagayomba, “Dinhiwagwa ng’ombe yiyi nu Ntemi na ilinda nhale noi. Dudizuyibhulaga, duyilekagi mpaga ibyale tamu.”

Abhabehi bha njemu bhenabho bhagizunilija giko. Hanuma yaho, ing’ombe igabyala ndama. Jubhiza lulu ng’ombe ibhili, ninayo ni ndama.

Abhabehi wa njemu bhagayomba, “Dujijinje ing’ombe jiniji bho gujikabhanya na mbuli. Ulu dulajipandike imbuli, dugudula gugabhanha umubhise. Bhagadula ugukabhanya na mbuli inne.

Untemi Ng’hwaya agayomba, “Abhabehi bha njemu bhalina masala kulebha abhalevi bha walwa, ku nguno bhadayibhulagile ing’ombe iyoyalinda. Uguyibhulaga ing’ombe iyo ilinda, ilisawa na gujibhulaga ng’ombe ibhili.”

KISWAHILI: MFALME NG’HWAYA

Kulikuwepo na Mfalme (Mtemi) aliyewapa watu wake mitihani ili kuwapata wale wenye busara. Mitihani hiyo ililengwa kwa walevi na wavuta bangi. Kila kundi alilipatia ng’ombe mwenye mimba.

Mtemi aliwaambia, “Nimewapa ng’ombe mmoja mwenye mimba kila kundi. Muko huru kufanya mpendavyo kuhusu ng’ombe niliyowakabidhi.”

Kundi la walevi lilikuwa na watu saba. Wakasema, “Mtemi ametupatia ng’ombe. Tumwue ng’ombe huyo ili tule nyama.” Kweli walimwua yule ng’ombe na kumtoa yule mtoto (ndama). Wakakubaliana kuanza kumchoma yule ndama na ikafuatia kuchomwa nyama yote.

Walevi hao waliamini kwamba, mtemi atakishukuru kikundi, kwa kula nyama yote bila kubakiza sehemu nyingine ya mnyama huyo. Kwa jinsi hii kikundi kitaendelea vizuri zaidi. Kweli walimla ng’ombe mzima na mtoto wake. Mtemi alikuwa amewatazama tu ili aone nani ana akili.

Wavuta bangi walikuwa watano, wakasema, “Tumepewa ng’ombe huyu na Mtemi na ana mimba kubwa sana. Tusimwue, tumwache hadi azae kwanza.” Wavuta bangi hao wakakubaliana hivyo. Baadaye ng’ombe akazaa ndama. Wakawa sasa ng’ombe wawili, mama na ndama.

Wavuta bangi wakasema “Tuwauze ng’ombe hao kwa kubadilishana na mbuzi. Tukisha wapata mbuzi, tutaweza kugawana baina yetu. Walifanikiwa kubadilishana na mbuzi wanne.

Mtemi Ng’hwaya alisema, “Wavuta bangi wana akili kupita walevi wa pombe, kwa sababu hawakumwua ng’ombe mwenye mimba. Kumwua ng’ombe mwenye mimba, ni sawa na kuwaua ng’ombe wawili.”

cow-2

ENGLISH: KING NG’HWAYA

There was a king who used to give his people tests to find those who were wise. These tests were directed to drunkards and marijuana smokers. He gave to each group a pregnant cow.

Then the king told them, “I have given to each group a pregnant cow. You are free to do whatever you want with the cow that I gave you.”

A group of drunkards had seven people. They said, “The king has given us a cow. Let us kill the cow for us to eat meat.” They actually killed the cow and took the calf out. They agreed to start roasting the calf and then followed the meat of the cow.

The drunkards believed that the king would appreciate the group for eating all the meat without leaving some. In this way, they thought, they would be regarded to be wiser. So, they ate the whole cow and the calf. The king just watched them to see which group was wise.

Marijuana smokers were five. They said to each other, “We have been given this cow with a big foetus. Let’s not slaughter her, we leave her until the calf is born first.” The marijuana smokers unanimously agreed on that. Later, the cow gave birth to a calf. There were now two cattle, a mother and a calf.

Marijuana smokers, “Let us sell those two cows by exchanging them with goats. Once we have goats, we’ll be able to divide among ourselves. They managed to exchange them with four goats.

Then King Ng’hwaya said, “Marijuana smokers are more intelligent than drunkards because they did not kill a pregnant cow. They knew that to kill a pregnant cow is the same as killing two cattle.”

130. JIGANO JA NG’WA ZAKARIA

Collected by: Don Sybertz, with special thanks to Rev Joe Healey (African Proverbs, Sayings and Stories)

Alihoi munhu umo nzunya uyo oliobhatijiwa kale, ilina lwakwe Zakaria Shikolo. Olinsuluja. Amiganiko gakwe pye galigalolile kubhusuluja bhokwe duhu.

Nulu lushiku ulomfungo uwei UShikolo adapandile uwasa ubho guja gujusalila. Abhazunya bhiye ahobhashika gumshauri asalile, adabhadililile nulu hadoo. Agabhashokeja, “Unene Nadina wasa imilimo iliminghi, hangi nadizile aha gutangaja nhulu jawiza, (injili) gubheja lina, uwikaji bhuli sabho duhu.”

Nose UShikolo agapandika sabho ninghi kufumila umo bhusuluja bhokwe. Agiyangula gulima lingunda lya bhulubha. Kubahati ya wiza, UShikalo agapona noi gubhitilija.

Nanghwe uigimba gubhitilija. Agayomba, “Ihaha, nahilile nali mhola gete, nali ngosha namala makoye. Ihaha nahilile.” Inhungulume uluiguta, igahilaga. Naise bhanhu uludupandika dugahilaga, dugigimbaga, dugadosoga kubhitilija mpaga nulu gung’wibha UMulungu, ihaha nahilile.

Aliyo UMulungu agang’wila, “Ubhebhe uli mbuuli gubhitilija ali? Lelo bhujiku inholo yako igusolwa. Ighinhu jinijo ijo wikumingila gigubhiza ja ng’wanani?” Ukujileka jibhunile fungo, utuja najo.

KISWAHILI: HADITHI YA ZAKARIA

Alikuwepo mtu mmoja mkristu aliyebatizwa zamani, jina lake Zakaria Shikolo, alikuwa mfanya biashara mawazo yake yote yalielekea kwenye biashara yake tu. Hata siku za jumapili yeye Shikolo hakupata nafasi ya kwenda kusali.

Wakristo wenzake walipo fika kwake ili kumshauri asali, hakuwajali hata kidogo, akawajibu, “Mimi sina nafasi shughuli ni nyingi, tena sikuja hapa kutangaza injili (kubeja lina) maisha ni mali tu.”

Sasa mwishowe Shikolo alipata mali nyingi kutokana na hiyo biashara yake. Akaamua kulima shamba la pamba, kwa bahati nzuri Shikolo akavuna mno kupita kiasi.

Naye akajivuna mno kupita kiasi, akasema, “Sasa nimewika, ni mzima kabisa, nimwamume nimemaliza matatizo.” Sasa nimewika, jogoo akishiba anawika, hata sisi watu tukipata tunawika, tunajigamba, tunajivuna kupita kiasi hata kumsahau Mungu, (Ihaha nahilile) Sasa nimewika.

Lakini Mungu akamwambia, ‘Wewe ni mjinga wa kiasi gani? Leo usiku roho yako itachukuliwa na vitu vile vyote ulivyojikusanyia vitakuwa vya nani?’ Utaviacha vikiwa vimezidisha uzito wake kwenye vining’iniza vyakula, hutaenda navyo.

adult-1

ENGLISH: THE STOTY OF ZACHARIA THE TRADER

There was a newly baptized Christian, named Zacharia Shikolo, who was a businessman. He was was always thinking about his business. Even on Sunday, Shikolo did not have time to pray.

When his fellow Christians came to him to advise him, he did not care at all. He replied, “I have no time. There are so many things to do., I have not come here to preach the gospel (to make a name).”

Now, Shikolo finally got a lot of wealth from his business. He decided to grow cotton in a big farm.Fortunately, Shikolo harvested a lot that year.

As a result, he became so arrogant. He said, “Now I have got wealth and excellent life. I have finished all the trouble. Now I have got wealth. I am like the cock that has eaten to satisfaction. I can crow. Even we people when we get wealth, we can crow. Now I have got wealth. Everything is over.”

But God said to him, “How foolish you are. Today in the evening, your soul will be taken away and for whom will all the things you have gathered be? You will leave them behind.” Luke 12:15-21.