Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
Njengoba impukane ezifele phakathi kwamakha ziwenza anuke kubi, kunjalo lobuwula obuncinyane bugabhela ukuhlakanipha lodumo.
2 The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
Inhliziyo yolungileyo ikhungathekela ekulungeni, kodwa inhliziyo yesiwula ikhungathekela ebubini.
3 Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
Loba ehamba nje emgwaqweni oyisiwula kalangqondo, utshengisa loba ngubani ubuphukuphuku bakhe.
4 If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
Aluba umbusi ekuthukuthelela, ungasuki esikhundleni sakho; ukuthobeka kungathoba umonakalo obungaba khona.
5 Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
Bukhona ububi esengibubonile ngaphansi kwelanga, kuliphutha elenziwa ngumbusi:
6 Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
Iziwula ziphakanyiselwa ezikhundleni ezinengi eziphezulu, kodwa abanothileyo belezikhundla eziphansi.
7 I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
Sengibone izichaka zigade amabhiza, kuthi amakhosana ahambe ngezinyawo njengezichaka.
8 He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
Lowo ogebha umgodi angawela kuwo; odiliza umduli angalunywa yinyoka.
9 He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
Oqhekeza amatshe angalinyazwa yiwo; obanda inkuni angaba sengozini yazo.
10 If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
Lapho ihloka libuthundu ubukhali balo bungalolwanga, kudingeka amandla amanengi kodwa ubungcitshi buyaphumelelisa.
11 If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
Nxa inyoka ihle ilume ingakalunjwa, umlumbi kaselanzuzo.
12 The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
Amazwi aphuma emlonyeni wesihlakaniphi amnandi, kodwa isiwula sichithwa yizindebe zaso.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
Ekuqaleni amazwi aso ayibuwula; ekucineni aseyikuwumana okubi
14 Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
njalo isiwula sanda ngamazwi. Kakho okwaziyo okuzayo ngubani ongamazisa okuzakwenzakala ngemva kwakhe na?
15 The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
Umtshikatshika wesiwula uyasidinisa; kasiyazi indlela eya edolobheni.
16 Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
Maye kuwe, wena lizwe onkosi yalo yayiyisichaka, amakhosana akho azitika ngamadili ekuseni.
17 How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
Ubusisiwe wena, wena lizwe onkosi yalo izalwa esikhosini amakhosana alo adla ngezikhathi eziqondileyo edlela ukuqina hatshi ukudakwa.
18 By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
Nxa indoda ilivila intungo ziyabhensa; nxa izandla zayo ziyekethisa indlu iyavuza.
19 Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth all things.
Idili lenzelwa ukujabula, lewayini lenza impilo ibe mnandi, kodwa imali yiyo impendulo yakho konke.
20 Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.
Ungayithuki inkosi lasemicabangweni yakho, loba uqalekise abanothileyo loba usendlini yakho yokulala, ngoba mhlawumbe inyoni yasemoyeni ingawathwala amazwi akho, loba inyoni ephaphayo ingayabika okutshoyo.
