Thuituen 10
1 Dueknah pilyang loh thungnom situi thaa te a rhim sak bangla vel lunghmangnah vik te cueihnah lakah khaw, thangpomnah lakah khaw nul.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 Aka cueih kah lungbuei tah a bantang la mael tih aka ang kah lungbuei tah a banvoei la mael.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Longpuei ah pataeng lunghmang tah lunghmang bangla a lungbuei a talh hil pongpa tih a lunghmang te a cungkuem taengah a thui.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 Aka taemrhai kah mueihla loh nang taengah pai mai cakhaw na hmuen phawt boeh. Hoeihnah long ni tholhnah a len khaw a duem sak.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Boei mikhmuh lamloh tohtamaeh la aka thoeng ka hmuh te khomik hmuiah a thae la om.
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Pavai te hmuensang la muep a khueh vaengah hlanglen tah mathoe la kho a sak.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 Marhang dongkah sal rhoek ka hmuh vaengah mangpa rhoek tah diklai ah sal bangla pongpa uh.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 Rhom aka too khaw a khuila cungku tih vongtung aka phae khaw rhul loh amah a tuk.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Lungto aka puen khaw amah ah a kothae tih thing aka phaek khaw te nen te tohngah saeh.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 Thi te duu tih a ha te a haat pawt atah thadueng khaw vak. Tedae rhoeikhangnah tah cueihnah long ni a khui sak.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Calthai a om pawt ah rhul loh a tuk atah cal kung ham rhoeikhangnah moenih.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
12 Hlang cueih ka dongkah ol tah mikdaithen om tih aka ang kah hmuilai long tah amah a dolh.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
13 A ka dongkah ol tongnah te lunghmangnah la om tih a ka dongkah ol bawtnah khaw boethae angvawknah la om.
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 Lunghmang tah ol pung tih metla a om khaw hlang loh ming pawh. A hnuk ah metla a om ham khaw a taengah ulong a thui pah voel?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 Hlang ang kah thakthaenah loh amah a kohnue sak tih khopuei la caeh ham khaw ming pawh.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Na manghai khaw camoe tih na mangpa rhoek loh mincang ah nah a caak uh te, khohmuen nang ngawn tah khomap.
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Na manghai te hlangcoelh capa van tih, na mangpa rhoek long khaw rhuihahnah ham pawt tih thayung thamal hamla a tue vaengah aka ca khohmuen nang tah na yoethen.
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 Ngaknah lamloh tul pae hmawn tih kut poemnah lamloh im cae.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 Nueihbu ham buh a khueh tih misurtui loh hingnah ko a hoe sak. Tedae tangka loh a cungkuem te a doo.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Na cangnah nen khaw manghai te tap boeh. Imkhui kah na thingkong dongah khaw hlanglen te tap boeh. Vaan kah vaa loh ol te khuen vetih ol te a phae loh a kungmah taengah thui ve.
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.
