Ecclesiastes 10
1 As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
Nhunzi dzakafa dzinonhuwisa mafuta akanaka, saizvozvowo upenzi hushoma hunorema kukunda uchenjeri nokukudzwa.
2 A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
Mwoyo womunhu akachenjera unosimbira kurudyi, asi mwoyo webenzi unosimbira kuruboshwe.
3 Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
Kunyange richifamba pamugwagwa, benzi rinoshayiwa njere uye rinoratidza vanhu vose upenzi hwaro.
4 If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
Kana kutsamwa kwomutongi kukakumukira, usabva panzvimbo yako; unyoro hunonyaradza mhosva huru.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
Kune chinhu chakaipa chandakaona pasi pezuva, kutadza kunobva kuvatongi:
6 Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
Mapenzi anoiswa munzvimbo zhinji dzapamusoro, ipapo vapfumi vachitora nzvimbo dzakaderera.
7 I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
Ndakaona varanda vakatasva mabhiza, ipapo machinda achifamba pasi netsoka savaranda.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
Ani naani anochera gomba angangowira mariri; ani naani anopwanya naparusvingo angangorumwa nenyoka.
9 The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
Ani naani anopwanya matombo angangokuvadzwa nawo; ani naani anotsemura matanda angangozviisa panjodzi nawo.
10 If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
Kana demo rakagomara uye rikasarodzwa, panodiwa simba rakawanda, asi unyanzvi hunouyisa kubudirira.
11 If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for the charmer.
Kana nyoka ikaruma mupingudzi asati aibata, mupingudzi haachabatsiri.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool consume him.
Mashoko anobva mumuromo momunhu akachenjera ane unyoro, asi benzi rinomedzwa nomuromo waro.
13 The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
Kutanga kwamashoko ake upenzi; nokuguma kwokutaura kwake mupengo wakashata.
14 Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
Uye benzi rinowanza mashoko. Hapana munhu anoziva zvichauya, ndiani angamuudza zvichaitika shure kwake?
15 The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
Basa rebenzi rinomunetesa; haazivi nzira inoenda kuguta.
16 Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
Une nhamo iwe nyika ina mambo aiva muranda uye ina machinda anoita mabiko mangwanani.
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.
Wakaropafadzwa iwe nyika ina mambo akaberekwa mukukudzwa uye ina machinda anodya panguva yakafanira, kuti vasimbiswe kwete kuti vadhakwe.
18 Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
Kana munhu ari simbe, denga remba rinosakara; kana achigarira maoko, imba inobvinza.
19 A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
Mabiko anoitirwa kuseka, uye waini inofadza upenyu, asi mari imhinduro kune zvose.
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.
Usatuka mambo kunyange mupfungwa dzako, kana kutuka mupfumi paimba yako yokuvata, nokuti shiri yedenga ingangotakura mashoko ako, uye china mapapiro chingangozivisa zvawataura.
