Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
Impukane ezifileyo zinukisa zibilise amagcobo omthaki; ubuthutha obuncinyane benza njalo kohloniphekayo ngenxa yenhlakanipho lodumo.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.
Inhliziyo yohlakaniphileyo ingakwesokunene sakhe, kodwa inhliziyo yesithutha ingakwesokhohlo saso.
3 Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
Yebo-ke lapho oyisithutha ehamba endleleni, ingqondo yakhe iyasilela, uthi kuye wonke uyisithutha.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, do not leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
Uba umoya wombusi ukuvukela, ungatshiyi indawo yakho, ngoba ukuthobeka kuyathulisa iziphambeko ezinkulu.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
Kulobubi engibubone ngaphansi kwelanga, njengesiphosiso esiphuma ebusweni bombusi:
6 Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
Ubuwula bubekwa ezindaweni eziphakemeyo kakhulu, labanothileyo bahlala endaweni ephansi.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
Ngibonile izigqili zigade amabhiza, leziphathamandla zihamba njengezigqili emhlabeni.
8 He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a serpent.
Ogebha umgodi uzawela kuwo; lodiliza umthangala, inyoka izamluma.
9 Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
Osusa amatshe uzalinyazwa yiwo; obanda izigodo uzakuba sengozini ngazo.
10 If the axe is blunt, and one doesn't sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
Uba insimbi ibuthundu njalo engaloli ubukhali, ngakho ufanele engezelele amandla; kodwa inhlakanipho yinhle ukulungisa.
11 If the serpent bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer's tongue.
Uba inyoka iluma kungelakulunjwa, kakulanzuzo kungcitshi yolimi.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
Amazwi omlomo ohlakaniphileyo alomusa, kodwa indebe zesithutha ziyasiginya.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Ukuqala kwamazwi omlomo waso kuyibuthutha, lokucina kwenkulumo yaso kuyibuhlanya obubi,
14 A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn't know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
njalo isithutha sandisa amazwi. Umuntu kazi okuzakuba khona; lalokho okuzakuba khona emva kwakhe, ngubani ongamtshela khona?
15 The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn't know how to go to the city.
Umtshikatshika wesithuthandini uyasidinisa, ngoba kasazi ukuya emzini.
16 Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning.
Maye kuwe, lizwe, onkosi yakho ingumntwana, leziphathamandla zakho zidla ekuseni!
17 Blessed are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness.
Ubusisiwe, lizwe, onkosi yakho iyindodana yabakhulu, leziphathamandla zakho zidla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo, zidlela ukuqina, hatshi ukudakwa.
18 By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
Ngobuvila obukhulu intungo ziyabhensa, langokuyekethisa izandla indlu iyanethela.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
Idili lenzelwa uhleko, lewayini lithokozisa impilo; kodwa imali iyimpendulo yakho konke.
20 Do not curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and do not curse the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
Lemcabangweni wakho ungayithuki inkosi, lekamelweni lakho lokulala ungamthuki onothileyo; ngoba inyoni yamazulu izathwala ilizwi, lokulamaphiko kubike udaba.
