UmTshumayeli 10
1 Impukane ezifileyo zinukisa zibilise amagcobo omthaki; ubuthutha obuncinyane benza njalo kohloniphekayo ngenxa yenhlakanipho lodumo.
As dead flies cause perfume to stink, so a little folly can overpower wisdom and honor.
2 Inhliziyo yohlakaniphileyo ingakwesokunene sakhe, kodwa inhliziyo yesithutha ingakwesokhohlo saso.
The heart of a wise person tends to the right, but the heart of a fool tends to the left.
3 Yebo-ke lapho oyisithutha ehamba endleleni, ingqondo yakhe iyasilela, uthi kuye wonke uyisithutha.
When a fool walks down a road, his thinking is deficient, proving to everyone he is a fool.
4 Uba umoya wombusi ukuvukela, ungatshiyi indawo yakho, ngoba ukuthobeka kuyathulisa iziphambeko ezinkulu.
If the emotions of a ruler rise up against you, do not leave your work. Calm can quiet down great outrage.
5 Kulobubi engibubone ngaphansi kwelanga, njengesiphosiso esiphuma ebusweni bombusi:
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, a kind of error that comes from a ruler:
6 Ubuwula bubekwa ezindaweni eziphakemeyo kakhulu, labanothileyo bahlala endaweni ephansi.
Fools are given leadership positions, while successful men are given low positions.
7 Ngibonile izigqili zigade amabhiza, leziphathamandla zihamba njengezigqili emhlabeni.
I have seen slaves riding horses, and successful men walking like slaves on the ground.
8 Ogebha umgodi uzawela kuwo; lodiliza umthangala, inyoka izamluma.
Anyone who digs a pit can fall into it, and whenever someone breaks down a wall, a snake can bite him.
9 Osusa amatshe uzalinyazwa yiwo; obanda izigodo uzakuba sengozini ngazo.
Whoever cuts out stones can be hurt by them, and the man who chops wood is endangered by it.
10 Uba insimbi ibuthundu njalo engaloli ubukhali, ngakho ufanele engezelele amandla; kodwa inhlakanipho yinhle ukulungisa.
If an iron blade is dull, and a man does not sharpen it, then he must use more strength, but wisdom provides an advantage for success.
11 Uba inyoka iluma kungelakulunjwa, kakulanzuzo kungcitshi yolimi.
If a snake bites before it is charmed, then there is no advantage 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,
As words begin to flow from a fool's mouth, foolishness comes out, and at the end his mouth flows with wicked madness.
14 njalo isithutha sandisa amazwi. Umuntu kazi okuzakuba khona; lalokho okuzakuba khona emva kwakhe, ngubani ongamtshela khona?
A fool multiplies words, but no one knows what is coming. Who knows what is coming after him?
15 Umtshikatshika wesithuthandini uyasidinisa, ngoba kasazi ukuya emzini.
The toil of fools wearies them, so that they do not even know the road to town.
16 Maye kuwe, lizwe, onkosi yakho ingumntwana, leziphathamandla zakho zidla ekuseni!
Woe to you, land, if your king is a young boy, and if your leaders begin feasting in the morning!
17 Ubusisiwe, lizwe, onkosi yakho iyindodana yabakhulu, leziphathamandla zakho zidla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo, zidlela ukuqina, hatshi ukudakwa.
But blessed are you, land, if your king is the son of nobles, and if your leaders eat at the right time, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18 Ngobuvila obukhulu intungo ziyabhensa, langokuyekethisa izandla indlu iyanethela.
Because of laziness the roof sinks in, and because of idle hands the house leaks.
19 Idili lenzelwa uhleko, lewayini lithokozisa impilo; kodwa imali iyimpendulo yakho konke.
People prepare food for laughter, wine brings enjoyment to life, and money fills the need 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, not even in your mind, and do not curse rich people in your bedroom. For a bird of the sky might carry your words; whatever has wings can spread the matter.
