Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dying flies spoil the sweetness of the ointment. Wisdom and glory is more precious than a small and shortlived folly.
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 fool is in his left hand.
Inhliziyo yolungileyo ikhungathekela ekulungeni, kodwa inhliziyo yesiwula ikhungathekela ebubini.
3 Yea, and the fool when he walketh in the way, whereas be himself is a fool, esteemeth all men fools.
Loba ehamba nje emgwaqweni oyisiwula kalangqondo, utshengisa loba ngubani ubuphukuphuku bakhe.
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.
Aluba umbusi ekuthukuthelela, ungasuki esikhundleni sakho; ukuthobeka kungathoba umonakalo obungaba khona.
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:
Bukhona ububi esengibubonile ngaphansi kwelanga, kuliphutha elenziwa ngumbusi:
6 A fool set in high dignity, and the rich sitting beneath.
Iziwula ziphakanyiselwa ezikhundleni ezinengi eziphezulu, kodwa abanothileyo belezikhundla eziphansi.
7 I have seen servants upon horses: and princes walking on the ground as servants.
Sengibone izichaka zigade amabhiza, kuthi amakhosana ahambe ngezinyawo njengezichaka.
8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it: and he that breaketh a hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Lowo ogebha umgodi angawela kuwo; odiliza umduli angalunywa yinyoka.
9 He that removeth stones, shall be hurt by them: and he that cutteth trees, shall be wounded by them.
Oqhekeza amatshe angalinyazwa yiwo; obanda inkuni angaba sengozini yazo.
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.
Lapho ihloka libuthundu ubukhali balo bungalolwanga, kudingeka amandla amanengi kodwa ubungcitshi buyaphumelelisa.
11 If a serpent bite in silence, he is nothing better that backbiteth secretly.
Nxa inyoka ihle ilume ingakalunjwa, umlumbi kaselanzuzo.
12 The words of the mouth of a wise man are grace: but the lips of a fool shall throw him down headlong.
Amazwi aphuma emlonyeni wesihlakaniphi amnandi, kodwa isiwula sichithwa yizindebe zaso.
13 The beginning of his words is folly, and the end of his talk is a mischievous error.
Ekuqaleni amazwi aso ayibuwula; ekucineni aseyikuwumana okubi
14 A fool multiplieth words. A man cannot tell what hath been before him: and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
njalo isiwula sanda ngamazwi. Kakho okwaziyo okuzayo ngubani ongamazisa okuzakwenzakala ngemva kwakhe na?
15 The labour of fools shall afflict them that know not bow to go to the city.
Umtshikatshika wesiwula uyasidinisa; kasiyazi indlela eya edolobheni.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and when the princes eat 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 in due season for refreshment, and not for riotousness.
Ubusisiwe wena, wena lizwe onkosi yalo izalwa esikhosini amakhosana alo adla ngezikhathi eziqondileyo edlela ukuqina hatshi ukudakwa.
18 By slothfulness a building shall be brought down, and through the weakness of hands, the house shall drop through.
Nxa indoda ilivila intungo ziyabhensa; nxa izandla zayo ziyekethisa indlu iyavuza.
19 For laughter they make bread, and wine that the living may feast: and all things obey money.
Idili lenzelwa ukujabula, lewayini lenza impilo ibe mnandi, kodwa imali yiyo impendulo yakho konke.
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.
Ungayithuki inkosi lasemicabangweni yakho, loba uqalekise abanothileyo loba usendlini yakho yokulala, ngoba mhlawumbe inyoni yasemoyeni ingawathwala amazwi akho, loba inyoni ephaphayo ingayabika okutshoyo.
