Ecclesiastes 10
1 Dead flies cause a perfumer's perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom — By reason of honour — a little folly!
Kama vile nzi waliokufa huacha harufu mbaya kwenye manukato, ndivyo upumbavu kidogo huzidi nguvu hekima na heshima.
2 The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
Moyo wa mwenye hekima huelekea kuume, lakini moyo wa mpumbavu huelekea kushoto.
3 And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, '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 go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
Kama hasira ya mtawala ikiwaka dhidi yako, usiache mahali pako, utulivu huweza kuzuia makosa mengi.
5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
Kuna ubaya niliouona chini ya jua, aina ya kosa litokalo kwa mtawala:
6 He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
Wapumbavu kuwekwa kwenye nafasi nyingi za juu, wakati matajiri hushika nafasi za chini.
7 I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
Mimi nimeona watumwa wamepanda farasi, wakati wakuu wakitembea kwa miguu kama watumwa.
8 Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
Yeye achimbaye shimo aweza kutumbukia ndani yake, yeyote abomoaye ukuta anaweza kuumwa na nyoka.
9 Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.
Yeyote apasuaye mawe inawezekana yakamuumiza, yeyote apasuaye magogo inawezekana yakamuumiza.
10 If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
Kama shoka ni butu na halikunolewa, nguvu nyingi zinahitajika, lakini ustadi utaleta mafanikio.
11 If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
Kama nyoka akiuma kabla ya kufanyiwa uaguzi, mwaguzi hatahitajika tena.
12 Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
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] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.
Mwanzoni maneno yake ni upumbavu, mwishoni ni wazimu mbaya,
14 And the fool multiplieth words: 'Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to 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 him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
Kazi ya mpumbavu humchosha mwenyewe, hajui njia iendayo mjini.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.
Ole wako, ee nchi ambayo mfalme wako alikuwa mtumwa na ambayo wakuu wako hufanya karamu asubuhi.
17 Happy art thou, O land, When thy king [is] a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, 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 slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
Kama mtu ni mvivu paa la nyumba huinama, kutokana na mikono milegevu, nyumba huvuja.
19 For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.
Karamu hufanywa kwa ajili ya kicheko, nao mvinyo hufurahisha maisha, lakini fedha ni jawabu la mambo yote.
20 Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.
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.
