Mlaliki 10
1 Monga ntchentche zakufa zimayika fungo loyipa mʼmafuta onunkhira, choncho kupusa pangʼono kumawononganso nzeru ndi ulemu.
Dead flies cause a perfumer’s perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom—By reason of honor—a little folly!
2 Mtima wa munthu wanzeru umamutsogolera bwino, koma mtima wa munthu wopusa umamusocheretsa.
The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
3 Chitsiru ngakhale chikamayenda mu msewu, zochita zake ndi zopanda nzeru ndipo chimaonetsa aliyense kuti icho ndi chitsirudi.
And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he has said to everyone, “He [is] a fool.”
4 Ngati wolamulira akukwiyira, usachoke pa ntchito yako; kufatsa kumakonza zolakwa zazikulu.
If the spirit of the ruler goes up against you, do not leave your place, For yielding quiets great sinners.
5 Pali choyipa chimene ndinachiona pansi pano, kulakwitsa kumene kumachokera kwa wolamulira:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As ignorance that goes out from the ruler,
6 Zitsiru amazipatsa ntchito zambiri zapamwamba, pamene anthu olemera amawapatsa ntchito zotsika.
He has set the fool in many high places, And the rich sits in a low place.
7 Ndaona akapolo atakwera pa akavalo, pamene akalonga akuyenda pansi ngati akapolo.
I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 Amene amakumba dzenje adzagwamo yekha; amene amabowola khoma adzalumidwa ndi njoka.
Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And whoever is breaking a hedge, a serpent bites him.
9 Amene amaphwanya miyala adzapwetekedwa ndi miyalayo; amene amawaza nkhuni adzapwetekedwa nazo.
Whoever is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoever is cleaving trees endangered by them.
10 Ngati nkhwangwa ili yobuntha yosanoledwa, pamafunika mphamvu zambiri potema, koma luso limabweretsa chipambano.
If the iron has been blunt, And he has not sharpened the face, Then he increases strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
11 Nʼkopanda phindu kudziwa kuseweretsa njoka ngati njokayo yakuluma kale.
If the serpent bites without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
12 Mawu a pakamwa pa munthu wanzeru ndi okondweretsa, koma chitsiru chidzawonongedwa ndi milomo yake yomwe.
Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
13 Chitsiru chimayamba ndi mawu opusa; potsiriza pake zoyankhula zake ndi zamisala
The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.
14 ndipo chitsiru chimachulukitsa mawu. Palibe amene amadziwa zimene zikubwera mʼtsogolo, ndani angamuwuze zomwe zidzachitika iye akadzafa?
And the fool multiplies words: “Man does not know that which is—And that which is after him, who declares to him?”
15 Chitsiru chimatopa msanga ndi ntchito yochepa; ndipo sichikhala ndi mphamvu zobwererera ku mudzi.
The labor of the foolish wearies him, In that he has not known to go to the city.
16 Tsoka kwa iwe, iwe dziko ngati mfumu yako ikali mwana, ndipo atsogoleri ako amakhala pa madyerero mmamawa.
Woe to you, O land, when your king [is] a youth, And your princes eat in the morning.
17 Wodala iwe, iwe dziko ngati mfumu yako ndi mwana wolemekezeka ndipo atsogoleri ako amadya pa nthawi yake, kuti apeze mphamvu osati kuti aledzere.
Blessed are you, O land, When your king [is] a son of nobles, And your princes eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
18 Ngati munthu ndi waulesi, denga lake limaloshoka; ngati manja ake ndi alobodo nyumba yake imadontha.
By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands the house drops.
19 Phwando ndi lokondweretsa anthu, ndipo vinyo ndi wosangalatsa moyo, koma ndalama ndi yankho la chilichonse.
For mirth they are making a feast, And wine makes life joyful, And the silver answers with all.
20 Usanyoze mfumu ngakhale mu mtima mwako, kapena kutukwana munthu wachuma mʼchipinda chako, pakuti mbalame yamlengalenga itha kutenga mawu ako nʼkukafotokoza zomwe wanena.
Even in your mind do not revile a king, And in the inner parts of your bed-chamber do not revile the rich: For a bird of the heavens causes the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declares the word.
