UmTshumayeli 10
1 Impukane ezifileyo zinukisa zibilise amagcobo omthaki; ubuthutha obuncinyane benza njalo kohloniphekayo ngenxa yenhlakanipho lodumo.
Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2 Inhliziyo yohlakaniphileyo ingakwesokunene sakhe, kodwa inhliziyo yesithutha ingakwesokhohlo saso.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Yebo-ke lapho oyisithutha ehamba endleleni, ingqondo yakhe iyasilela, uthi kuye wonke uyisithutha.
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 Uba umoya wombusi ukuvukela, ungatshiyi indawo yakho, ngoba ukuthobeka kuyathulisa iziphambeko ezinkulu.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5 Kulobubi engibubone ngaphansi kwelanga, njengesiphosiso esiphuma ebusweni bombusi:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Ubuwula bubekwa ezindaweni eziphakemeyo kakhulu, labanothileyo bahlala endaweni ephansi.
folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7 Ngibonile izigqili zigade amabhiza, leziphathamandla zihamba njengezigqili emhlabeni.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
8 Ogebha umgodi uzawela kuwo; lodiliza umthangala, inyoka izamluma.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Osusa amatshe uzalinyazwa yiwo; obanda izigodo uzakuba sengozini ngazo.
Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 Uba insimbi ibuthundu njalo engaloli ubukhali, ngakho ufanele engezelele amandla; kodwa inhlakanipho yinhle ukulungisa.
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 Uba inyoka iluma kungelakulunjwa, kakulanzuzo kungcitshi yolimi.
If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12 Amazwi omlomo ohlakaniphileyo alomusa, kodwa indebe zesithutha ziyasiginya.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 Ukuqala kwamazwi omlomo waso kuyibuthutha, lokucina kwenkulumo yaso kuyibuhlanya obubi,
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 njalo isithutha sandisa amazwi. Umuntu kazi okuzakuba khona; lalokho okuzakuba khona emva kwakhe, ngubani ongamtshela khona?
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 wesithuthandini uyasidinisa, ngoba kasazi ukuya emzini.
The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Maye kuwe, lizwe, onkosi yakho ingumntwana, leziphathamandla zakho zidla ekuseni!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Ubusisiwe, lizwe, onkosi yakho iyindodana yabakhulu, leziphathamandla zakho zidla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo, zidlela 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 Ngobuvila obukhulu intungo ziyabhensa, langokuyekethisa izandla indlu iyanethela.
By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 Idili lenzelwa uhleko, lewayini lithokozisa impilo; kodwa imali iyimpendulo yakho konke.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
20 Lemcabangweni wakho ungayithuki inkosi, lekamelweni lakho lokulala ungamthuki onothileyo; ngoba inyoni yamazulu izathwala ilizwi, lokulamaphiko kubike udaba.
Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
