UmTshumayeli 10
1 Njengoba impukane ezifele phakathi kwamakha ziwenza anuke kubi, kunjalo lobuwula obuncinyane bugabhela ukuhlakanipha lodumo.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour; so does 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.
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 Aluba umbusi ekuthukuthelela, ungasuki esikhundleni sakho; ukuthobeka kungathoba umonakalo obungaba khona.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offences to rest.
5 Bukhona ububi esengibubonile ngaphansi kwelanga, kuliphutha elenziwa ngumbusi:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 Iziwula ziphakanyiselwa ezikhundleni ezinengi eziphezulu, kodwa abanothileyo belezikhundla eziphansi.
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 Sengibone izichaka zigade amabhiza, kuthi amakhosana ahambe ngezinyawo njengezichaka.
I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 Lowo ogebha umgodi angawela kuwo; odiliza umduli angalunywa yinyoka.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Oqhekeza amatshe angalinyazwa yiwo; obanda inkuni angaba sengozini yazo.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 Lapho ihloka libuthundu ubukhali balo bungalolwanga, kudingeka amandla amanengi kodwa ubungcitshi buyaphumelelisa.
If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 Nxa inyoka ihle ilume ingakalunjwa, umlumbi kaselanzuzo.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12 Amazwi aphuma emlonyeni wesihlakaniphi amnandi, kodwa isiwula sichithwa yizindebe zaso.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
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 multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Umtshikatshika wesiwula uyasidinisa; kasiyazi indlela eya edolobheni.
The labour of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16 Maye kuwe, wena lizwe onkosi yalo yayiyisichaka, amakhosana akho azitika ngamadili ekuseni.
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, 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.
Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your 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 sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 Idili lenzelwa ukujabula, lewayini lenza impilo ibe mnandi, kodwa imali yiyo impendulo yakho konke.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for 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.
Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom, for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.
