UmTshumayeli 10
1 Njengoba impukane ezifele phakathi kwamakha ziwenza anuke kubi, kunjalo lobuwula obuncinyane bugabhela ukuhlakanipha lodumo.
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2 Inhliziyo yolungileyo ikhungathekela ekulungeni, kodwa inhliziyo yesiwula ikhungathekela ebubini.
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 Loba ehamba nje emgwaqweni oyisiwula kalangqondo, utshengisa loba ngubani ubuphukuphuku bakhe.
Yes, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
4 Aluba umbusi ekuthukuthelela, ungasuki esikhundleni sakho; ukuthobeka kungathoba umonakalo obungaba khona.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against you, leave not your place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
5 Bukhona ububi esengibubonile ngaphansi kwelanga, kuliphutha elenziwa ngumbusi:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 Iziwula ziphakanyiselwa ezikhundleni ezinengi eziphezulu, kodwa abanothileyo belezikhundla eziphansi.
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
7 Sengibone izichaka zigade amabhiza, kuthi amakhosana ahambe ngezinyawo njengezichaka.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 Lowo ogebha umgodi angawela kuwo; odiliza umduli angalunywa yinyoka.
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 Oqhekeza amatshe angalinyazwa yiwo; obanda inkuni angaba sengozini yazo.
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 Lapho ihloka libuthundu ubukhali balo bungalolwanga, kudingeka amandla amanengi kodwa ubungcitshi buyaphumelelisa.
If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
11 Nxa inyoka ihle ilume ingakalunjwa, umlumbi kaselanzuzo.
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 Amazwi aphuma emlonyeni wesihlakaniphi amnandi, kodwa isiwula sichithwa yizindebe zaso.
The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
13 Ekuqaleni amazwi aso ayibuwula; ekucineni aseyikuwumana okubi
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
14 njalo isiwula sanda ngamazwi. Kakho okwaziyo okuzayo ngubani ongamazisa okuzakwenzakala ngemva kwakhe na?
A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
15 Umtshikatshika wesiwula uyasidinisa; kasiyazi indlela eya edolobheni.
The labour of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
16 Maye kuwe, wena lizwe onkosi yalo yayiyisichaka, amakhosana akho azitika ngamadili ekuseni.
Woe to you, O city, whose king is young, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 Ubusisiwe wena, wena lizwe onkosi yalo izalwa esikhosini amakhosana alo adla ngezikhathi eziqondileyo edlela ukuqina hatshi ukudakwa.
Blessed are you, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 Nxa indoda ilivila intungo ziyabhensa; nxa izandla zayo ziyekethisa indlu iyavuza.
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 Idili lenzelwa ukujabula, lewayini lenza impilo ibe mnandi, kodwa imali yiyo impendulo yakho konke.
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
20 Ungayithuki inkosi lasemicabangweni yakho, loba uqalekise abanothileyo loba usendlini yakho yokulala, ngoba mhlawumbe inyoni yasemoyeni ingawathwala amazwi akho, loba inyoni ephaphayo ingayabika okutshoyo.
Even in your conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in your bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry your voice, and that which has wings shall report your speech.
