Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
Monga ntchentche zakufa zimayika fungo loyipa mʼmafuta onunkhira, choncho kupusa pangʼono kumawononganso nzeru ndi ulemu.
2 The heart of a wise man is in his right hand, and the heart of a fool is in his left hand.
Mtima wa munthu wanzeru umamutsogolera bwino, koma mtima wa munthu wopusa umamusocheretsa.
3 Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
Chitsiru ngakhale chikamayenda mu msewu, zochita zake ndi zopanda nzeru ndipo chimaonetsa aliyense kuti icho ndi chitsirudi.
4 If the spirit of him that hath power, ascend upon thee, leave not thy place: because care will make the greatest sins to cease.
Ngati wolamulira akukwiyira, usachoke pa ntchito yako; kufatsa kumakonza zolakwa zazikulu.
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as it were by an error proceeding from the face of the prince:
Pali choyipa chimene ndinachiona pansi pano, kulakwitsa kumene kumachokera kwa wolamulira:
6 A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
Zitsiru amazipatsa ntchito zambiri zapamwamba, pamene anthu olemera amawapatsa ntchito zotsika.
7 I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
Ndaona akapolo atakwera pa akavalo, pamene akalonga akuyenda pansi ngati akapolo.
8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Amene amakumba dzenje adzagwamo yekha; amene amabowola khoma adzalumidwa ndi njoka.
9 He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
Amene amaphwanya miyala adzapwetekedwa ndi miyalayo; amene amawaza nkhuni adzapwetekedwa nazo.
10 If the iron be blunt, and be not as before, but be made blunt, with much labour it shall be sharpened: and after industry shall follow wisdom.
Ngati nkhwangwa ili yobuntha yosanoledwa, pamafunika mphamvu zambiri potema, koma luso limabweretsa chipambano.
11 If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
Nʼkopanda phindu kudziwa kuseweretsa njoka ngati njokayo yakuluma kale.
12 The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
Mawu a pakamwa pa munthu wanzeru ndi okondweretsa, koma chitsiru chidzawonongedwa ndi milomo yake yomwe.
13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
Chitsiru chimayamba ndi mawu opusa; potsiriza pake zoyankhula zake ndi zamisala
14 A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
ndipo chitsiru chimachulukitsa mawu. Palibe amene amadziwa zimene zikubwera mʼtsogolo, ndani angamuwuze zomwe zidzachitika iye akadzafa?
15 The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
Chitsiru chimatopa msanga ndi ntchito yochepa; ndipo sichikhala ndi mphamvu zobwererera ku mudzi.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat in the morning.
Tsoka kwa iwe, iwe dziko ngati mfumu yako ikali mwana, ndipo atsogoleri ako amakhala pa madyerero mmamawa.
17 Blessed is the land, whose king is noble, and whose princes eat in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
Wodala iwe, iwe dziko ngati mfumu yako ndi mwana wolemekezeka ndipo atsogoleri ako amadya pa nthawi yake, kuti apeze mphamvu osati kuti aledzere.
18 By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
Ngati munthu ndi waulesi, denga lake limaloshoka; ngati manja ake ndi alobodo nyumba yake imadontha.
19 For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
Phwando ndi lokondweretsa anthu, ndipo vinyo ndi wosangalatsa moyo, koma ndalama ndi yankho la chilichonse.
20 Detract not the king, no not in thy thought; and speak not evil of the rich man in thy private chamber: because even the birds of the air will carry thy voice, and he that hath wings will tell what thou hast said.
Usanyoze mfumu ngakhale mu mtima mwako, kapena kutukwana munthu wachuma mʼchipinda chako, pakuti mbalame yamlengalenga itha kutenga mawu ako nʼkukafotokoza zomwe wanena.
