Phungdeikung 10
1 Kâhluk e hmuitui hah bitsei ro ni a hmuikawk sak e patetlah, pathunae titca e ni a lungkaang e hoi bari kaawm e tami hah hot boiboe lah ao sak.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2 Tami lungkaang e a lungthin teh amae aranglae kut dawk ao. Tamipathu e a lungthin teh avoilae kut dawk ao.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Tamipathu teh lam a cei lahun nah pouknae a tawn hoeh dawkvah, kai teh tamipathu doeh telah tami pueng koe ouk a dei.
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 Bawi buet touh ni nang koe a lungphuen pawiteh, nama e hmuen cettakhai hanh. Panguepnae ni yon kalen e hai ouk a roum sak.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Bawi ni a payon e kecu dawk kanî rahim vah hnokahawi hoeh ka hmu e teh,
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 kapathunaw ni a rasangnae koe, ka tangrengnaw ni a rahnoumnae koe a tahung awh e,
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 sannaw ni marang a kâcui awh teh, bawinaw ni sannaw patetlah khok hoi a cei awh e hah ka hmu.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 Tangkom ka tai e tami teh hote tangkom dawk a bo han. Takha ka raphoe e tami teh tahrun ni a khue han.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Talungnaw ka takhoe e tami teh ama a ratet han, thing ka tâtueng tami haiyah hmâtanca hoi ao han.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 Cakâ a hâ a kim nah na kata hoeh pawiteh, tha hoe patung han. Thoumthainae ni tânae hoi yawhawinae a coe sak.
If the ax is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 Ân hoehnahlan tahrun ni tami khuek pawiteh, Taânkasinnaw teh banghai hawinae awm hoeh.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12 Tami lungkaang e lawk teh a radip. Hatei, tamipathu e pahni teh amahoima a kâpayawp thai.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13 Lawkdei a kamtawng nah pathunae lah a o, apoutnae koe lah teh ka mathout poung e pathunae lah ao.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 Tamipathu teh lawk apap. Hateiteh, kaawm hane hno tami ni dei thai awh hoeh. Ahnie a hnuklah bangtelamaw a tho han tie apimaw ka dei thai.
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Tamipathunaw teh khothung a cei awh han e lamthung pateng a panue awh hoeh dawkvah, ahnimae kâyawmnae teh ayâ patang sak.
The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16 Camo rae siangpahrang ni a uknaeram teh, Ukkungnaw ni amom patenghai a ngai patetlah a canei dawkvah yawthoenae lah ao.
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 Na ram dawk e siangpahrang teh ka talue e a miphun lah ao dawkvah, ukkungnaw ni yamuhrinae laipalah thao nahanelah atueng khoe e dawk catnet pawiteh yawhawinae lah o.
Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Ekvoi pangak dawkvah lemphu a hmawn thai kut hoi pathoup hoehpawiteh kho a yu thai.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 Nawm nahanelah pawi ouk to awh. Misur ni hai na nawm sak thai. Tangka ni bangpueng a sak thai.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20 Na lungthin hoi siangpahrang hah thoebo hanh. Na inae hmuen koehai kacue e hah thoebo hanh. Kalvan kamleng e tava ni hote lawk hah a kamlengkhai han. A kamleng lahun nah hote tava ni hote kong hah a pathang han.
Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
