Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies ruin the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a brief and limited foolishness.
Njengoba impukane ezifele phakathi kwamakha ziwenza anuke kubi, kunjalo lobuwula obuncinyane bugabhela ukuhlakanipha lodumo.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a foolish man is in his left hand.
Inhliziyo yolungileyo ikhungathekela ekulungeni, kodwa inhliziyo yesiwula ikhungathekela ebubini.
3 Moreover, as a foolish man is walking along the way, even though he himself is unwise, he considers everyone to be foolish.
Loba ehamba nje emgwaqweni oyisiwula kalangqondo, utshengisa loba ngubani ubuphukuphuku bakhe.
4 If the spirit of one who holds authority rises over you, do not leave your place, because attentiveness will cause the greatest sins to cease.
Aluba umbusi ekuthukuthelela, ungasuki esikhundleni sakho; ukuthobeka kungathoba umonakalo obungaba khona.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, proceeding from the presence of a prince, as if by mistake:
Bukhona ububi esengibubonile ngaphansi kwelanga, kuliphutha elenziwa ngumbusi:
6 a foolish man appointed to a high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath him.
Iziwula ziphakanyiselwa ezikhundleni ezinengi eziphezulu, kodwa abanothileyo belezikhundla eziphansi.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants.
Sengibone izichaka zigade amabhiza, kuthi amakhosana ahambe ngezinyawo njengezichaka.
8 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever tears apart a hedge, a snake will bite him.
Lowo ogebha umgodi angawela kuwo; odiliza umduli angalunywa yinyoka.
9 Whoever carries away stones will be harmed by them. And whoever cuts down trees will be wounded by them.
Oqhekeza amatshe angalinyazwa yiwo; obanda inkuni angaba sengozini yazo.
10 If the iron is dull, and if it was not that way before, but has been made dull by much labor, then it will be sharpened. And wisdom will follow after diligence.
Lapho ihloka libuthundu ubukhali balo bungalolwanga, kudingeka amandla amanengi kodwa ubungcitshi buyaphumelelisa.
11 Whoever slanders in secret is nothing less than a snake that bites silently.
Nxa inyoka ihle ilume ingakalunjwa, umlumbi kaselanzuzo.
12 Words from the mouth of a wise man are graceful, but the lips of a foolish man will throw him down with violence.
Amazwi aphuma emlonyeni wesihlakaniphi amnandi, kodwa isiwula sichithwa yizindebe zaso.
13 At the beginning of his words is foolishness, and at the end of his talk is a most grievous error.
Ekuqaleni amazwi aso ayibuwula; ekucineni aseyikuwumana okubi
14 The fool multiplies his words. A man does not know what has been before him, and who is able to reveal to him what will be in the future after him?
njalo isiwula sanda ngamazwi. Kakho okwaziyo okuzayo ngubani ongamazisa okuzakwenzakala ngemva kwakhe na?
15 The hardship of the foolish will afflict those who do not know to go into the city.
Umtshikatshika wesiwula uyasidinisa; kasiyazi indlela eya edolobheni.
16 Woe to you, the land whose king is a boy, and whose princes consume in the morning.
Maye kuwe, wena lizwe onkosi yalo yayiyisichaka, amakhosana akho azitika ngamadili ekuseni.
17 Blessed is the land whose king is noble, and whose princes eat at the proper time, for refreshment and not for self-indulgence.
Ubusisiwe wena, wena lizwe onkosi yalo izalwa esikhosini amakhosana alo adla ngezikhathi eziqondileyo edlela ukuqina hatshi ukudakwa.
18 By laziness, a framework shall be brought down, and by the weakness of hands, a house shall collapse through.
Nxa indoda ilivila intungo ziyabhensa; nxa izandla zayo ziyekethisa indlu iyavuza.
19 While laughing, they make bread and wine, so that the living may feast. And all things are obedient to money.
Idili lenzelwa ukujabula, lewayini lenza impilo ibe mnandi, kodwa imali yiyo impendulo yakho konke.
20 You should not slander the king, even in your thoughts, and you should not speak evil of a wealthy man, even in your private chamber. For even the birds of the air will carry your voice, and whatever has wings will announce your opinion.
Ungayithuki inkosi lasemicabangweni yakho, loba uqalekise abanothileyo loba usendlini yakho yokulala, ngoba mhlawumbe inyoni yasemoyeni ingawathwala amazwi akho, loba inyoni ephaphayo ingayabika okutshoyo.
