UmTshumayeli 10
1 Njengoba impukane ezifele phakathi kwamakha ziwenza anuke kubi, kunjalo lobuwula obuncinyane bugabhela ukuhlakanipha lodumo.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking savour: [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
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.
Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [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 yielding allayeth great offences.
5 Bukhona ububi esengibubonile ngaphansi kwelanga, kuliphutha elenziwa ngumbusi:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Iziwula ziphakanyiselwa ezikhundleni ezinengi eziphezulu, kodwa abanothileyo belezikhundla eziphansi.
folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 Sengibone izichaka zigade amabhiza, kuthi amakhosana ahambe ngezinyawo njengezichaka.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Lowo ogebha umgodi angawela kuwo; odiliza umduli angalunywa yinyoka.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Oqhekeza amatshe angalinyazwa yiwo; obanda inkuni angaba sengozini yazo.
Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 Lapho ihloka libuthundu ubukhali balo bungalolwanga, kudingeka amandla amanengi kodwa ubungcitshi buyaphumelelisa.
If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11 Nxa inyoka ihle ilume ingakalunjwa, umlumbi kaselanzuzo.
If the serpent bite before it be charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12 Amazwi aphuma emlonyeni wesihlakaniphi amnandi, kodwa isiwula sichithwa yizindebe zaso.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 Ekuqaleni amazwi aso ayibuwula; ekucineni aseyikuwumana okubi
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 njalo isiwula sanda ngamazwi. Kakho okwaziyo okuzayo ngubani ongamazisa okuzakwenzakala ngemva kwakhe na?
A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Umtshikatshika wesiwula uyasidinisa; kasiyazi indlela eya edolobheni.
The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for 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 a child, and 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 the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Nxa indoda ilivila intungo ziyabhensa; nxa izandla zayo ziyekethisa indlu iyavuza.
By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 Idili lenzelwa ukujabula, lewayini lenza impilo ibe mnandi, kodwa imali yiyo impendulo yakho konke.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life: and money answereth 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.
Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
