Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid; so doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
Monga ntchentche zakufa zimayika fungo loyipa mʼmafuta onunkhira, choncho kupusa pangʼono kumawononganso nzeru ndi ulemu.
2 A wise man's understanding is at his right hand; but a fool's understanding at his left.
Mtima wa munthu wanzeru umamutsogolera bwino, koma mtima wa munthu wopusa umamusocheretsa.
3 Yea also, when a fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.
Chitsiru ngakhale chikamayenda mu msewu, zochita zake ndi zopanda nzeru ndipo chimaonetsa aliyense kuti icho ndi chitsirudi.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
Ngati wolamulira akukwiyira, usachoke pa ntchito yako; kufatsa kumakonza zolakwa zazikulu.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from a ruler:
Pali choyipa chimene ndinachiona pansi pano, kulakwitsa kumene kumachokera kwa wolamulira:
6 Folly is set on great heights, and the rich sit in low place.
Zitsiru amazipatsa ntchito zambiri zapamwamba, pamene anthu olemera amawapatsa ntchito zotsika.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
Ndaona akapolo atakwera pa akavalo, pamene akalonga akuyenda pansi ngati akapolo.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
Amene amakumba dzenje adzagwamo yekha; amene amabowola khoma adzalumidwa ndi njoka.
9 Whoso quarrieth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
Amene amaphwanya miyala adzapwetekedwa ndi miyalayo; amene amawaza nkhuni adzapwetekedwa nazo.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength; but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Ngati nkhwangwa ili yobuntha yosanoledwa, pamafunika mphamvu zambiri potema, koma luso limabweretsa chipambano.
11 If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then the charmer hath no advantage.
Nʼkopanda phindu kudziwa kuseweretsa njoka ngati njokayo yakuluma kale.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Mawu a pakamwa pa munthu wanzeru ndi okondweretsa, koma chitsiru chidzawonongedwa ndi milomo yake yomwe.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is grievous madness.
Chitsiru chimayamba ndi mawu opusa; potsiriza pake zoyankhula zake ndi zamisala
14 A fool also multiplieth words; yet man knoweth not what shall be; and that which 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 wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how 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 boy, and thy princes feast in the morning!
Tsoka kwa iwe, iwe dziko ngati mfumu yako ikali mwana, ndipo atsogoleri ako amakhala pa madyerero mmamawa.
17 Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a free man, and thy princes eat in due season, in strength, and not in drunkenness!
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 the rafters sink in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
Ngati munthu ndi waulesi, denga lake limaloshoka; ngati manja ake ndi alobodo nyumba yake imadontha.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
Phwando ndi lokondweretsa anthu, ndipo vinyo ndi wosangalatsa moyo, koma ndalama ndi yankho la chilichonse.
20 Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought, and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber; for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
Usanyoze mfumu ngakhale mu mtima mwako, kapena kutukwana munthu wachuma mʼchipinda chako, pakuti mbalame yamlengalenga itha kutenga mawu ako nʼkukafotokoza zomwe wanena.
