Patukkung 10
1 Kadueh taksae mah hmuihoih tui to hmuisae ah angcoengsak baktih toengah, kamthu khosakhaih mah palunghahaih hoi ahmin kahoih pakoehhaih to amrosak.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 Palungha kami ih palung loe bantang bangah oh, toe kamthu ih palung loe banqoi bangah oh.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Ue, kamthu loe lamcaeh naah doeh, amthuhaih to amtueng moe, angmah amthuhaih to minawk boih khaeah thuih.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 Ukkung mah palung ang phui thuih naah, na ohhaih ahmuen to caeh taak hmah; angdaehahih mah kalen sakpazaehaih to dipsak.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Ukkung khae hoiah sakpazaehaih tacawt baktih toengah, ni tlim ah ka hnuk ih hmuen kasae to oh.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Angraeng mah ahmuen kahnaem ah anghnut naah, kamthu loe kasang ahmuen ah anghnut lat.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 Angraengnawk khok hoiah amkaeh o naah, tamnanawk mah hrang nuiah angthueng o lat.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 Qumqai kami loe tangqom thungah krah tih; sipae phrae kami loe pahui mah patuk tih.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Thlung takhoe kami loe nganbawh kana hak tih; thing khuek kami loe ahmaa caa tih.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 Caka to kanoe ah taak ai nahaeloe, tha ueng han angaih; toe palunghahaih mah atho ohhaih loklam to hnuksak.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Pahui to adoi hoiah na sak cadoeh na patuk tih, lokpunghaih loe amekhaih tidoeh om ai.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 Palungha kami ih pakha thung hoiah tacawt loknawk loe tahmenhaih to oh, toe kamthu loe angmah ih pahni mah paaeh.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 Anih pakha hoi tacawt tangsuek lok loe amthuhaih hoiah amtong, anih ih lokpaeh boenghaih loe kasae amthuhaih ah oh.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 Kamthu loe lok pung, kami mah angzo han koi hmuen to thui thai ai; anih hmabang ah timaw om tih, tiah mi mah maw thui thai tih?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 Vangpui thungah caehhaih loklam to panoek ai baktih toengah, kamthu toksakhaih mah kaminawk angphosak boih.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Nawkta ukkung siangpahrang ohhaih prae, khawnthaw ah buh raenghhaih poih sah angraengnawk ohhaih prae, nang loe khosak bing!
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Khingya han koi kaom imthung takoh hoiah tapen siangpahrang ohhaih prae, mu kanae hmoek ai, tha oh hanah atue phak naah buh kacaa angraengnawk ohhaih prae, nang loe tahamhoih.
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 Thasethaih mah im to hmawnsak; bantha set pongah im loe kho longh.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 Pahnuih hanah ni poih to sak, mu mah kami poeknawmsak; toe phoisa mah hmuenmae to qan thaih boih.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Siangpahrang to palung thung hoiah doeh pasoih hmah; angraengnawk doeh na iihhaih ahmuen hoiah pasoih hmah; van ih tavaa mah na lok to sin ueloe, pakhraeh kaom tavaa mah thui pae moeng tih.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.
