Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Njengoba impukane ezifele phakathi kwamakha ziwenza anuke kubi, kunjalo lobuwula obuncinyane bugabhela ukuhlakanipha lodumo.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
Inhliziyo yolungileyo ikhungathekela ekulungeni, kodwa inhliziyo yesiwula ikhungathekela ebubini.
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Loba ehamba nje emgwaqweni oyisiwula kalangqondo, utshengisa loba ngubani ubuphukuphuku bakhe.
4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
Aluba umbusi ekuthukuthelela, ungasuki esikhundleni sakho; ukuthobeka kungathoba umonakalo obungaba khona.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
Bukhona ububi esengibubonile ngaphansi kwelanga, kuliphutha elenziwa ngumbusi:
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
Iziwula ziphakanyiselwa ezikhundleni ezinengi eziphezulu, kodwa abanothileyo belezikhundla eziphansi.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
Sengibone izichaka zigade amabhiza, kuthi amakhosana ahambe ngezinyawo njengezichaka.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Lowo ogebha umgodi angawela kuwo; odiliza umduli angalunywa yinyoka.
9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
Oqhekeza amatshe angalinyazwa yiwo; obanda inkuni angaba sengozini yazo.
10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
Lapho ihloka libuthundu ubukhali balo bungalolwanga, kudingeka amandla amanengi kodwa ubungcitshi buyaphumelelisa.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
Nxa inyoka ihle ilume ingakalunjwa, umlumbi kaselanzuzo.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
Amazwi aphuma emlonyeni wesihlakaniphi amnandi, kodwa isiwula sichithwa yizindebe zaso.
13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Ekuqaleni amazwi aso ayibuwula; ekucineni aseyikuwumana okubi
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
njalo isiwula sanda ngamazwi. Kakho okwaziyo okuzayo ngubani ongamazisa okuzakwenzakala ngemva kwakhe na?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
Umtshikatshika wesiwula uyasidinisa; kasiyazi indlela eya edolobheni.
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
Maye kuwe, wena lizwe onkosi yalo yayiyisichaka, amakhosana akho azitika ngamadili ekuseni.
17 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.
Ubusisiwe wena, wena lizwe onkosi yalo izalwa esikhosini amakhosana alo adla ngezikhathi eziqondileyo edlela ukuqina hatshi ukudakwa.
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
Nxa indoda ilivila intungo ziyabhensa; nxa izandla zayo ziyekethisa indlu iyavuza.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
Idili lenzelwa ukujabula, lewayini lenza impilo ibe mnandi, kodwa imali yiyo impendulo yakho konke.
20 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.
Ungayithuki inkosi lasemicabangweni yakho, loba uqalekise abanothileyo loba usendlini yakho yokulala, ngoba mhlawumbe inyoni yasemoyeni ingawathwala amazwi akho, loba inyoni ephaphayo ingayabika okutshoyo.
