Ecclesiastes 10
1 DEAD flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.
Monga ntchentche zakufa zimayika fungo loyipa mʼmafuta onunkhira, choncho kupusa pangʼono kumawononganso nzeru ndi ulemu.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
Mtima wa munthu wanzeru umamutsogolera bwino, koma mtima wa munthu wopusa umamusocheretsa.
3 Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom 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 yielding pacifieth 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, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
Pali choyipa chimene ndinachiona pansi pano, kulakwitsa kumene kumachokera kwa wolamulira:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, 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 an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Amene amakumba dzenje adzagwamo yekha; amene amabowola khoma adzalumidwa ndi njoka.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
Amene amaphwanya miyala adzapwetekedwa ndi miyalayo; amene amawaza nkhuni adzapwetekedwa nazo.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he 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 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
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 mischievous madness.
Chitsiru chimayamba ndi mawu opusa; potsiriza pake zoyankhula zake ndi zamisala
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; 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 the foolish wearieth every one of them, because 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 child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Tsoka kwa iwe, iwe dziko ngati mfumu yako ikali mwana, ndipo atsogoleri ako amakhala pa madyerero mmamawa.
17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for 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 much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
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 merry: but 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.
