Mlaliki 10
1 Monga ntchentche zakufa zimayika fungo loyipa mʼmafuta onunkhira, choncho kupusa pangʼono kumawononganso nzeru ndi ulemu.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking odour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
2 Mtima wa munthu wanzeru umamutsogolera bwino, koma mtima wa munthu wopusa umamusocheretsa.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart is at his left.
3 Chitsiru ngakhale chikamayenda mu msewu, zochita zake ndi zopanda nzeru ndipo chimaonetsa aliyense kuti icho ndi chitsirudi.
Also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
4 Ngati wolamulira akukwiyira, usachoke pa ntchito yako; kufatsa kumakonza zolakwa zazikulu.
If the spirit of the ruler riseth against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
5 Pali choyipa chimene ndinachiona pansi pano, kulakwitsa kumene kumachokera kwa wolamulira:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Zitsiru amazipatsa ntchito zambiri zapamwamba, pamene anthu olemera amawapatsa ntchito zotsika.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 Ndaona akapolo atakwera pa akavalo, pamene akalonga akuyenda pansi ngati akapolo.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Amene amakumba dzenje adzagwamo yekha; amene amabowola khoma adzalumidwa ndi njoka.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoever breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Amene amaphwanya miyala adzapwetekedwa ndi miyalayo; amene amawaza nkhuni adzapwetekedwa nazo.
Whoever removeth stones shall be hurt by them; and he that cutteth wood shall be endangered by it.
10 Ngati nkhwangwa ili yobuntha yosanoledwa, pamafunika mphamvu zambiri potema, koma luso limabweretsa chipambano.
If the iron is blunt, and he doth not whet the edge, then must he use more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Nʼkopanda phindu kudziwa kuseweretsa njoka ngati njokayo yakuluma kale.
Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
12 Mawu a pakamwa pa munthu wanzeru ndi okondweretsa, koma chitsiru chidzawonongedwa ndi milomo yake yomwe.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 Chitsiru chimayamba ndi mawu opusa; potsiriza pake zoyankhula zake ndi zamisala
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 ndipo chitsiru chimachulukitsa mawu. Palibe amene amadziwa zimene zikubwera mʼtsogolo, ndani angamuwuze zomwe zidzachitika iye akadzafa?
A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Chitsiru chimatopa msanga ndi ntchito yochepa; ndipo sichikhala ndi mphamvu zobwererera ku mudzi.
The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how 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 thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy 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 art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Ngati munthu ndi waulesi, denga lake limaloshoka; ngati manja ake ndi alobodo nyumba yake imadontha.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 Phwando ndi lokondweretsa anthu, ndipo vinyo ndi wosangalatsa moyo, koma ndalama ndi yankho la chilichonse.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
20 Usanyoze mfumu ngakhale mu mtima mwako, kapena kutukwana munthu wachuma mʼchipinda chako, pakuti mbalame yamlengalenga itha kutenga mawu ako nʼkukafotokoza zomwe wanena.
Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
