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 produce an evil odour; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
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.
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4 Uba umoya wombusi ukuvukela, ungatshiyi indawo yakho, ngoba ukuthobeka kuyathulisa iziphambeko ezinkulu.
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offences to rest.
5 Kulobubi engibubone ngaphansi kwelanga, njengesiphosiso esiphuma ebusweni bombusi:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds 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 on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 Ogebha umgodi uzawela kuwo; lodiliza umthangala, inyoka izamluma.
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 Osusa amatshe uzalinyazwa yiwo; obanda izigodo uzakuba sengozini ngazo.
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
10 Uba insimbi ibuthundu njalo engaloli ubukhali, ngakho ufanele engezelele amandla; kodwa inhlakanipho yinhle ukulungisa.
If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11 Uba inyoka iluma kungelakulunjwa, kakulanzuzo kungcitshi yolimi.
If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12 Amazwi omlomo ohlakaniphileyo alomusa, kodwa indebe zesithutha ziyasiginya.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
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 multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15 Umtshikatshika wesithuthandini uyasidinisa, ngoba kasazi ukuya emzini.
The labour of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16 Maye kuwe, lizwe, onkosi yakho ingumntwana, leziphathamandla zakho zidla ekuseni!
Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
17 Ubusisiwe, lizwe, onkosi yakho iyindodana yabakhulu, leziphathamandla zakho zidla ngesikhathi esifaneleyo, zidlela 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 Ngobuvila obukhulu intungo ziyabhensa, langokuyekethisa izandla indlu iyanethela.
By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
19 Idili lenzelwa uhleko, lewayini lithokozisa impilo; kodwa imali iyimpendulo yakho konke.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
20 Lemcabangweni wakho ungayithuki inkosi, lekamelweni lakho lokulala ungamthuki onothileyo; ngoba inyoni yamazulu izathwala ilizwi, lokulamaphiko kubike udaba.
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.
