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.
Nhunzi dzakafa dzinonhuwisa mafuta akanaka, saizvozvowo upenzi hushoma hunorema kukunda uchenjeri nokukudzwa.
2 A wise man’s heart [is] at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
Mwoyo womunhu akachenjera unosimbira kurudyi, asi mwoyo webenzi unosimbira kuruboshwe.
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.
Kunyange richifamba pamugwagwa, benzi rinoshayiwa njere uye rinoratidza vanhu vose upenzi hwaro.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
Kana kutsamwa kwomutongi kukakumukira, usabva panzvimbo yako; unyoro hunonyaradza mhosva huru.
5 There is an evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceedeth from the ruler:
Kune chinhu chakaipa chandakaona pasi pezuva, kutadza kunobva kuvatongi:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
Mapenzi anoiswa munzvimbo zhinji dzapamusoro, ipapo vapfumi vachitora nzvimbo dzakaderera.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
Ndakaona varanda vakatasva mabhiza, ipapo machinda achifamba pasi netsoka savaranda.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Ani naani anochera gomba angangowira mariri; ani naani anopwanya naparusvingo angangorumwa nenyoka.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
Ani naani anopwanya matombo angangokuvadzwa nawo; ani naani anotsemura matanda angangozviisa panjodzi nawo.
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.
Kana demo rakagomara uye rikasarodzwa, panodiwa simba rakawanda, asi unyanzvi hunouyisa kubudirira.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Kana nyoka ikaruma mupingudzi asati aibata, mupingudzi haachabatsiri.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth [are] gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Mashoko anobva mumuromo momunhu akachenjera ane unyoro, asi benzi rinomedzwa nomuromo waro.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness: and the end of his talk [is] mischievous madness.
Kutanga kwamashoko ake upenzi; nokuguma kwokutaura kwake mupengo wakashata.
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?
Uye benzi rinowanza mashoko. Hapana munhu anoziva zvichauya, ndiani angamuudza zvichaitika shure kwake?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Basa rebenzi rinomunetesa; haazivi nzira inoenda kuguta.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Une nhamo iwe nyika ina mambo aiva muranda uye ina machinda anoita mabiko mangwanani.
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!
Wakaropafadzwa iwe nyika ina mambo akaberekwa mukukudzwa uye ina machinda anodya panguva yakafanira, kuti vasimbiswe kwete kuti vadhakwe.
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
Kana munhu ari simbe, denga remba rinosakara; kana achigarira maoko, imba inobvinza.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all [things].
Mabiko anoitirwa kuseka, uye waini inofadza upenyu, asi mari imhinduro kune zvose.
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.
Usatuka mambo kunyange mupfungwa dzako, kana kutuka mupfumi paimba yako yokuvata, nokuti shiri yedenga ingangotakura mashoko ako, uye china mapapiro chingangozivisa zvawataura.
