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.
Kama vile nzi waliokufa huacha harufu mbaya kwenye manukato, ndivyo upumbavu kidogo huzidi nguvu hekima na heshima.
2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
Moyo wa mwenye hekima huelekea kuume, lakini moyo wa mpumbavu huelekea kushoto.
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.
Hata anapotembea barabarani, mpumbavu hukosa ufahamu na kudhihirisha kwa kila mmoja jinsi alivyo mpumbavu.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
Kama hasira ya mtawala ikiwaka dhidi yako, usiache mahali pako, utulivu huweza kuzuia makosa mengi.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
Kuna ubaya niliouona chini ya jua, aina ya kosa litokalo kwa mtawala:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
Wapumbavu kuwekwa kwenye nafasi nyingi za juu, wakati matajiri hushika nafasi za chini.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
Mimi nimeona watumwa wamepanda farasi, wakati wakuu wakitembea kwa miguu kama watumwa.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Yeye achimbaye shimo aweza kutumbukia ndani yake, yeyote abomoaye ukuta anaweza kuumwa na nyoka.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
Yeyote apasuaye mawe inawezekana yakamuumiza, yeyote apasuaye magogo inawezekana yakamuumiza.
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.
Kama shoka ni butu na halikunolewa, nguvu nyingi zinahitajika, lakini ustadi utaleta mafanikio.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Kama nyoka akiuma kabla ya kufanyiwa uaguzi, mwaguzi hatahitajika tena.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Maneno yatokayo kinywani mwa mtu mwenye hekima yana neema, bali mpumbavu huangamizwa na midomo yake mwenyewe.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Mwanzoni maneno yake ni upumbavu, mwishoni ni wazimu mbaya,
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?
naye mpumbavu huzidisha maneno. Hakuna yeyote ajuaye linalokuja, ni nani awezaye kueleza ni jambo gani litakalotokea baada yake?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Kazi ya mpumbavu humchosha mwenyewe, hajui njia iendayo mjini.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Ole wako, ee nchi ambayo mfalme wako alikuwa mtumwa na ambayo wakuu wako hufanya karamu asubuhi.
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!
Heri wewe, ee nchi ambayo mfalme wako ni wa uzao wenye kuheshimika na ambayo wakuu wako hula chakula kwa wakati unaofaa: ili kupata nguvu na si kwa ajili ya ulevi.
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
Kama mtu ni mvivu paa la nyumba huinama, kutokana na mikono milegevu, nyumba huvuja.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
Karamu hufanywa kwa ajili ya kicheko, nao mvinyo hufurahisha maisha, lakini fedha ni jawabu la mambo yote.
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.
Usimshutumu mfalme hata ikiwa ni katika mawazo yako, au kumlaani tajiri katika chumba chako cha kulala, kwa sababu ndege wa angani wanaweza kuchukua maneno yako, naye ndege anayeruka anaweza kutoa taarifa ya yale uliyosema.
