Omubuulizi 10
1 Nga ensowera enfu bwe zoonoona akaloosa akawunya obulungi, bwe katyo akasobyo akatono bwe koonoona amagezi n’ekitiibwa.
Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
2 Omutima gw’omuntu ow’amagezi gumukozesa ekituufu, naye ogw’omusirusiru gumutwala kukola bitasaana.
The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
3 Ne bw’aba ng’atambula, amanyibwa nga talina magezi, era buli amulaba agamba nti musirusiru.
Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
4 Mukama wo bw’akunyiigiranga, tomulaganga busungu; okuddamu n’eggonjebwa kukyusa ekiruyi.
If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
5 Ekibi ekirala kye nalaba, kye kikwata ku nsobi y’omufuzi:
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:
6 nalaba ng’abasirusiru baweebwa ebifo ebisava, naye ng’abagagga bo baweebwa ebyo ebya wansi.
Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
7 Ate nalaba ng’abaddu beebagala embalaasi, songa abalangira batambuza bigere ng’abaddu.
I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
8 Asima ekinnya alikigwamu, n’oyo amenya ekisenge omusota gulimubojja.
He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
9 Oyo ayasa amayinja gamulumya, n’oyo ayasa enku zimulumya.
He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
10 Embazzi bwe tebaako bwogi, n’etewagalwa, agitemya ateekwa okufuba ennyo, naye obumanyirivu bwe buwangula.
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.
11 Omusota bwe guluma nga tegunnakola bya bufuusa, omufuusa talina kyafunamu.
If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
12 Ebigambo ebiva mu kamwa k’omuntu ow’amagezi bya muwendo nnyo eri abo ababiwulira, naye akamwa k’omusirusiru kamusuula mu ntata.
The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
13 Entandikwa y’ebigambo bye nga temuli nsa, ne ku nkomerero yaabyo biba mususa.
The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
14 Omusirusiru asavuwaza ebigambo. Tewali amanyi birijja, kale ani asobola okumubuulira ebiribaawo oluvannyuma lwe?
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?
15 Omusirusiru aterebuka mangu olw’ekitamugendedde bulungi, n’abulwa n’ekkubo erimutwala mu kibuga.
The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
16 Zikusanze gw’ensi kabaka bw’aba nga yali muddu, nga n’abalangira bakeera kwetamiirira!
Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
17 Olina omukisa gw’ensi kabaka wo bw’aba nga wa lulyo lulangira, ate nga n’abalangira bo bamanyi ekiseera eky’okuliiramu, olw’okufuna amaanyi so si lwa kutamiira.
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.
18 Obugayaavu buleetera akasolya k’ennyumba okutonnya, n’emikono egitayagala kukola gireetera ennyumba okutonnya.
By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
19 Ekijjulo kikolebwa lwa kusanyuka, ne wayini yeeyagaza obulamu, naye ensimbi y’esobola byonna.
Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, money, answereth all things.
20 Tokolimira kabaka mu mutima gwo newaakubadde okukolimira omugagga mu kisenge kyo, kubanga ennyonyi ey’omu bbanga eyinza okwetikka ebigambo byo nga biwandiikiddwa ku biwaawaatiro byayo n’ebibatuusaako.
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.
