Ecclesiastes 10
1 Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
Nhunzi dzakafa dzinonhuwisa mafuta akanaka, saizvozvowo upenzi hushoma hunorema kukunda uchenjeri nokukudzwa.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
Mwoyo womunhu akachenjera unosimbira kurudyi, asi mwoyo webenzi unosimbira kuruboshwe.
3 Yea, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
Kunyange richifamba pamugwagwa, benzi rinoshayiwa njere uye rinoratidza vanhu vose upenzi hwaro.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
Kana kutsamwa kwomutongi kukakumukira, usabva panzvimbo yako; unyoro hunonyaradza mhosva huru.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
Kune chinhu chakaipa chandakaona pasi pezuva, kutadza kunobva kuvatongi:
6 The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
Mapenzi anoiswa munzvimbo zhinji dzapamusoro, ipapo vapfumi vachitora nzvimbo dzakaderera.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
Ndakaona varanda vakatasva mabhiza, ipapo machinda achifamba pasi netsoka savaranda.
8 He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
Ani naani anochera gomba angangowira mariri; ani naani anopwanya naparusvingo angangorumwa nenyoka.
9 He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
Ani naani anopwanya matombo angangokuvadzwa nawo; ani naani anotsemura matanda angangozviisa panjodzi nawo.
10 If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
Kana demo rakagomara uye rikasarodzwa, panodiwa simba rakawanda, asi unyanzvi hunouyisa kubudirira.
11 If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
Kana nyoka ikaruma mupingudzi asati aibata, mupingudzi haachabatsiri.
12 The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
Mashoko anobva mumuromo momunhu akachenjera ane unyoro, asi benzi rinomedzwa nomuromo waro.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
Kutanga kwamashoko ake upenzi; nokuguma kwokutaura kwake mupengo wakashata.
14 A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
Uye benzi rinowanza mashoko. Hapana munhu anoziva zvichauya, ndiani angamuudza zvichaitika shure kwake?
15 The labour of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
Basa rebenzi rinomunetesa; haazivi nzira inoenda kuguta.
16 Woe to thee, O city, whose king is young, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Une nhamo iwe nyika ina mambo aiva muranda uye ina machinda anoita mabiko mangwanani.
17 Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
Wakaropafadzwa iwe nyika ina mambo akaberekwa mukukudzwa uye ina machinda anodya panguva yakafanira, kuti vasimbiswe kwete kuti vadhakwe.
18 By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
Kana munhu ari simbe, denga remba rinosakara; kana achigarira maoko, imba inobvinza.
19 Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
Mabiko anoitirwa kuseka, uye waini inofadza upenyu, asi mari imhinduro kune zvose.
20 Even in thy conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry thy voice, and that which has wings shall report thy speech.
Usatuka mambo kunyange mupfungwa dzako, kana kutuka mupfumi paimba yako yokuvata, nokuti shiri yedenga ingangotakura mashoko ako, uye china mapapiro chingangozivisa zvawataura.
