UmTshumayeli 10
1 Njengoba impukane ezifele phakathi kwamakha ziwenza anuke kubi, kunjalo lobuwula obuncinyane bugabhela ukuhlakanipha lodumo.
Dead flies cause the precious oil of the apothecary to become stinking and foaming; so doth a little folly him that is valued for wisdom and honor.
2 Inhliziyo yolungileyo ikhungathekela ekulungeni, kodwa inhliziyo yesiwula ikhungathekela ebubini.
The heart of a wise man is at his right hand; but the heart of a fool is at his left.
3 Loba ehamba nje emgwaqweni oyisiwula kalangqondo, utshengisa loba ngubani ubuphukuphuku bakhe.
Yea also, on whatever way the fool walketh, doth he lack proper sense, and he saith to all that he is a fool.
4 Aluba umbusi ekuthukuthelela, ungasuki esikhundleni sakho; ukuthobeka kungathoba umonakalo obungaba khona.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for submissiveness causeth great offences to be avoided.
5 Bukhona ububi esengibubonile ngaphansi kwelanga, kuliphutha elenziwa ngumbusi:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, like an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Iziwula ziphakanyiselwa ezikhundleni ezinengi eziphezulu, kodwa abanothileyo belezikhundla eziphansi.
Folly is set in great high places, and the rich sit in lowness.
7 Sengibone izichaka zigade amabhiza, kuthi amakhosana ahambe ngezinyawo njengezichaka.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants upon the ground.—
8 Lowo ogebha umgodi angawela kuwo; odiliza umduli angalunywa yinyoka.
He that diggeth a pit will fall into it; and him who breaketh down a fence—a serpent will bite him.
9 Oqhekeza amatshe angalinyazwa yiwo; obanda inkuni angaba sengozini yazo.
Whoso removeth stones will be hurt through them; and he that cleaveth wood will be endangered thereby.
10 Lapho ihloka libuthundu ubukhali balo bungalolwanga, kudingeka amandla amanengi kodwa ubungcitshi buyaphumelelisa.
If the iron be blunt, and man do not whet the edge, then must he exert more strength; but the advantage of making it properly sharp is wisdom.
11 Nxa inyoka ihle ilume ingakalunjwa, umlumbi kaselanzuzo.
If the serpent do bite because no one uttered a charm, then hath the man that can use his tongue [in charming] no preference.—
12 Amazwi aphuma emlonyeni wesihlakaniphi amnandi, kodwa isiwula sichithwa yizindebe zaso.
The words of a wise man's mouth [bring] grace; but the lips of a fool will destroy himself.
13 Ekuqaleni amazwi aso ayibuwula; ekucineni aseyikuwumana okubi
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the last that cometh out of his mouth is evil-bringing madness.
14 njalo isiwula sanda ngamazwi. Kakho okwaziyo okuzayo ngubani ongamazisa okuzakwenzakala ngemva kwakhe na?
The fool also multiplieth words; [but] a man cannot know what is to be; and what is to be after him, who can tell him?
15 Umtshikatshika wesiwula uyasidinisa; kasiyazi indlela eya edolobheni.
The toil of the foolish will weary every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.—
16 Maye kuwe, wena lizwe onkosi yalo yayiyisichaka, amakhosana akho azitika ngamadili ekuseni.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is lowminded, and when thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Ubusisiwe wena, wena lizwe onkosi yalo izalwa esikhosini amakhosana alo adla ngezikhathi eziqondileyo edlela ukuqina hatshi ukudakwa.
Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is noble-spirited, and thy princes eat in proper time, for strengthening, and not for gluttony!—
18 Nxa indoda ilivila intungo ziyabhensa; nxa izandla zayo ziyekethisa indlu iyavuza.
Through slothful hands the rafters will sink; and through idleness of the hands the house will become leaky.
19 Idili lenzelwa ukujabula, lewayini lenza impilo ibe mnandi, kodwa imali yiyo impendulo yakho konke.
For gay pleasure they prepare a feast, and wine is to make the living joyful; but money procureth all things.
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 thy thought thou must not curse a king; and in thy bed-chambers do not curse the rich; for a bird of the air can carry the sound, and that which hath wings can tell the word.
