Muparidzi 10
1 Nhunzi dzakafa dzinonhuwisa mafuta akanaka, saizvozvowo upenzi hushoma hunorema kukunda uchenjeri nokukudzwa.
Dead flies cause the ointment of the perfumer to send forth a stinking savour: [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 Mwoyo womunhu akachenjera unosimbira kurudyi, asi mwoyo webenzi unosimbira kuruboshwe.
A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left.
3 Kunyange richifamba pamugwagwa, benzi rinoshayiwa njere uye rinoratidza vanhu vose upenzi hwaro.
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 Kana kutsamwa kwomutongi kukakumukira, usabva panzvimbo yako; unyoro hunonyaradza mhosva huru.
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding allayeth great offences.
5 Kune chinhu chakaipa chandakaona pasi pezuva, kutadza kunobva kuvatongi:
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6 Mapenzi anoiswa munzvimbo zhinji dzapamusoro, ipapo vapfumi vachitora nzvimbo dzakaderera.
folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
7 Ndakaona varanda vakatasva mabhiza, ipapo machinda achifamba pasi netsoka savaranda.
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 Ani naani anochera gomba angangowira mariri; ani naani anopwanya naparusvingo angangorumwa nenyoka.
He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a fence, a serpent shall bite him.
9 Ani naani anopwanya matombo angangokuvadzwa nawo; ani naani anotsemura matanda angangozviisa panjodzi nawo.
Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 Kana demo rakagomara uye rikasarodzwa, panodiwa simba rakawanda, asi unyanzvi hunouyisa kubudirira.
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 Kana nyoka ikaruma mupingudzi asati aibata, mupingudzi haachabatsiri.
If the serpent bite before it be charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12 Mashoko anobva mumuromo momunhu akachenjera ane unyoro, asi benzi rinomedzwa nomuromo waro.
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13 Kutanga kwamashoko ake upenzi; nokuguma kwokutaura kwake mupengo wakashata.
The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 Uye benzi rinowanza mashoko. Hapana munhu anoziva zvichauya, ndiani angamuudza zvichaitika shure kwake?
A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Basa rebenzi rinomunetesa; haazivi nzira inoenda kuguta.
The labour of fools wearieth every one of them, for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16 Une nhamo iwe nyika ina mambo aiva muranda uye ina machinda anoita mabiko mangwanani.
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 Wakaropafadzwa iwe nyika ina mambo akaberekwa mukukudzwa uye ina machinda anodya panguva yakafanira, kuti vasimbiswe kwete kuti vadhakwe.
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 Kana munhu ari simbe, denga remba rinosakara; kana achigarira maoko, imba inobvinza.
By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19 Mabiko anoitirwa kuseka, uye waini inofadza upenyu, asi mari imhinduro kune zvose.
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life: and money answereth all things.
20 Usatuka mambo kunyange mupfungwa dzako, kana kutuka mupfumi paimba yako yokuvata, nokuti shiri yedenga ingangotakura mashoko ako, uye china mapapiro chingangozivisa zvawataura.
Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
