< UmTshumayeli 10 >

1 Impukane ezifileyo zinukisa zibilise amagcobo omthaki; ubuthutha obuncinyane benza njalo kohloniphekayo ngenxa yenhlakanipho lodumo.
As dead flies bring a stench to the perfumer’s oil, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
2 Inhliziyo yohlakaniphileyo ingakwesokunene sakhe, kodwa inhliziyo yesithutha ingakwesokhohlo saso.
A wise man’s heart inclines to the right, but the heart of a fool to the left.
3 Yebo-ke lapho oyisithutha ehamba endleleni, ingqondo yakhe iyasilela, uthi kuye wonke uyisithutha.
Even as the fool walks along the road, his sense is lacking, and he shows everyone that he is a fool.
4 Uba umoya wombusi ukuvukela, ungatshiyi indawo yakho, ngoba ukuthobeka kuyathulisa iziphambeko ezinkulu.
If the ruler’s temper flares against you, do not abandon your post, for calmness lays great offenses to rest.
5 Kulobubi engibubone ngaphansi kwelanga, njengesiphosiso esiphuma ebusweni bombusi:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun— an error that proceeds from the ruler:
6 Ubuwula bubekwa ezindaweni eziphakemeyo kakhulu, labanothileyo bahlala endaweni ephansi.
Folly is appointed to great heights, but the rich sit in lowly positions.
7 Ngibonile izigqili zigade amabhiza, leziphathamandla zihamba njengezigqili emhlabeni.
I have seen slaves on horseback, while princes go on foot like slaves.
8 Ogebha umgodi uzawela kuwo; lodiliza umthangala, inyoka izamluma.
He who digs a pit may fall into it, and he who breaches a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Osusa amatshe uzalinyazwa yiwo; obanda izigodo uzakuba sengozini ngazo.
The one who quarries stones may be injured by them, and he who splits logs endangers himself.
10 Uba insimbi ibuthundu njalo engaloli ubukhali, ngakho ufanele engezelele amandla; kodwa inhlakanipho yinhle ukulungisa.
If the axe is dull and the blade unsharpened, more strength must be exerted, but skill produces success.
11 Uba inyoka iluma kungelakulunjwa, kakulanzuzo kungcitshi yolimi.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, there is no profit for 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 consume him.
13 Ukuqala kwamazwi omlomo waso kuyibuthutha, lokucina kwenkulumo yaso kuyibuhlanya obubi,
The beginning of his talk is folly, and the end of his speech is evil madness.
14 njalo isithutha sandisa amazwi. Umuntu kazi okuzakuba khona; lalokho okuzakuba khona emva kwakhe, ngubani ongamtshela khona?
Yet the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming, and who can tell him what will come after him?
15 Umtshikatshika wesithuthandini uyasidinisa, ngoba kasazi ukuya emzini.
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.
16 Maye kuwe, lizwe, onkosi yakho ingumntwana, leziphathamandla zakho zidla ekuseni!
Woe to you, O land whose king is a youth, and whose princes feast in the morning.
17 Ubusisiwe, lizwe, onkosi yakho iyindodana yabakhulu, leziphathamandla zakho zidla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo, zidlela ukuqina, hatshi ukudakwa.
Blessed are you, O land whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 Ngobuvila obukhulu intungo ziyabhensa, langokuyekethisa izandla indlu iyanethela.
Through laziness the roof caves in, and in the hands of the idle, the house leaks.
19 Idili lenzelwa uhleko, lewayini lithokozisa impilo; kodwa imali iyimpendulo yakho konke.
A feast is prepared for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
20 Lemcabangweni wakho ungayithuki inkosi, lekamelweni lakho lokulala ungamthuki onothileyo; ngoba inyoni yamazulu izathwala ilizwi, lokulamaphiko kubike udaba.
Do not curse the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich even in your bedroom, for a bird of the air may carry your words, and a winged creature may report your speech.

< UmTshumayeli 10 >