Muparidzi 10
1 Nhunzi dzakafa dzinonhuwisa mafuta akanaka, saizvozvowo upenzi hushoma hunorema kukunda uchenjeri nokukudzwa.
Dead flies, cause to stink [and] ferment, the oil of the perfumer, —More costly than wisdom or honour, is a little folly.
2 Mwoyo womunhu akachenjera unosimbira kurudyi, asi mwoyo webenzi unosimbira kuruboshwe.
The sense of the wise, is on his right hand, —But, the sense of the dullard, on his left:
3 Kunyange richifamba pamugwagwa, benzi rinoshayiwa njere uye rinoratidza vanhu vose upenzi hwaro.
Yea, even by the way, as the foolish man walketh along, his sense faileth him—and he telleth everyone that, foolish, is he!
4 Kana kutsamwa kwomutongi kukakumukira, usabva panzvimbo yako; unyoro hunonyaradza mhosva huru.
If, the spirit of a ruler, riseth up against thee, thy place, do not leave, for gentleness, pacifieth such as have greatly erred.
5 Kune chinhu chakaipa chandakaona pasi pezuva, kutadza kunobva kuvatongi:
Here was a misfortune I had seen under the sun, —a veritable mistake that was going forth from the presence of one who had power:
6 Mapenzi anoiswa munzvimbo zhinji dzapamusoro, ipapo vapfumi vachitora nzvimbo dzakaderera.
Folly placed in great dignity, —while, the rich, in a low place, took their seat:
7 Ndakaona varanda vakatasva mabhiza, ipapo machinda achifamba pasi netsoka savaranda.
I had seen, servants, upon horses, —and, rulers, walking like servants, on the ground.
8 Ani naani anochera gomba angangowira mariri; ani naani anopwanya naparusvingo angangorumwa nenyoka.
He that diggeth a pit, thereinto, may fall, —and, he that breaketh through a hedge, there may bite him a serpent.
9 Ani naani anopwanya matombo angangokuvadzwa nawo; ani naani anotsemura matanda angangozviisa panjodzi nawo.
He that removeth stones, may be hurt therewith, —and he that cleaveth wood, may be endangered thereby.
10 Kana demo rakagomara uye rikasarodzwa, panodiwa simba rakawanda, asi unyanzvi hunouyisa kubudirira.
If, blunt, be the iron, and, himself, hath not sharpened, the edge, then, much force, must he apply, —but, an advantage for giving success, is wisdom.
11 Kana nyoka ikaruma mupingudzi asati aibata, mupingudzi haachabatsiri.
If a serpent will bite, unless he is charmed, then there is nothing better for him that owneth a tongue.
12 Mashoko anobva mumuromo momunhu akachenjera ane unyoro, asi benzi rinomedzwa nomuromo waro.
The words of a wise man’s mouth, are pleasant, —but, the lips of a dullard, will swallow him up:
13 Kutanga kwamashoko ake upenzi; nokuguma kwokutaura kwake mupengo wakashata.
The beginning of the words of his mouth, is folly, —but, the latter end of his speech, is mischievous madness.
14 Uye benzi rinowanza mashoko. Hapana munhu anoziva zvichauya, ndiani angamuudza zvichaitika shure kwake?
Yet, a foolish man, multiplieth words, —[though] no man knoweth that which hath been, and, that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15 Basa rebenzi rinomunetesa; haazivi nzira inoenda kuguta.
The toil of dullards, shall weary a man, that he knoweth not how to go into the city.
16 Une nhamo iwe nyika ina mambo aiva muranda uye ina machinda anoita mabiko mangwanani.
Alas! for thee, O land, when thy king is a boy, —and, thy rulers, in the morning, do eat:
17 Wakaropafadzwa iwe nyika ina mambo akaberekwa mukukudzwa uye ina machinda anodya panguva yakafanira, kuti vasimbiswe kwete kuti vadhakwe.
How happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, —and, thy rulers, in season, do eat, for strength, and not for debauchery.
18 Kana munhu ari simbe, denga remba rinosakara; kana achigarira maoko, imba inobvinza.
By two lazy arms, the framework sinketh in, —and, by the hanging down of the hands, the house may leak.
19 Mabiko anoitirwa kuseka, uye waini inofadza upenyu, asi mari imhinduro kune zvose.
Merrily people make bread, and, wine, gladdeneth life, —but, 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.
Even in thy thought, do not revile, the king, nor, within thy bed-chambers, revile thou the rich, —for, a bird of the heavens, might carry the voice, yea, an owner of wings, might tell the matter.
