Mhubiri 10
1 Kama nzi walio kufa husababisha manukato kutoa harufu ya uozo, hivyo hivyo upumbavu kidogo hushinda hekima na heshima.
Dead flies cause a perfumer’s perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom—By reason of honor—a little folly!
2 Moyo wa mtu mwenye hekima huelekea kulia, lakini moyo wa mpumbavu huelekea kushoto.
The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
3 Wakati mpumbavu anapotembea barabarani, fikira zake zina upungufu, ikithibitisha kwa kila mtu kwamba ni mpumbavu.
And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he has said to everyone, “He [is] a fool.”
4 Kama jaziba za mtawala zikiinuka kinyume na wewe, usiache kazi yako. Utulivu unaweza kutuliza ukatili mkubwa.
If the spirit of the ruler goes up against you, do not leave your place, For yielding quiets great sinners.
5 Kuna uovu niliouona chini ya jua, aina ya kosa ambalo huja kutoka kwa mtawala:
There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As ignorance that goes out from the ruler,
6 Wapumbavu wanapewa nafasi za uongozi, wakati watu walio faulu wanapewa nafasi za chini.
He has set the fool in many high places, And the rich sits in a low place.
7 Nimewaona watumwa wakipanda farasi, na watu walio faulu wakitembea kama watumwa juu ya ardhi.
I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 Yeyote anayechimba shimo anaweza kutumbukia yake, na popote mtu anayevunja ukuja, nyoka anaweza kumuuma.
Whoever is digging a pit falls into it, And whoever is breaking a hedge, a serpent bites him.
9 Yeyote achongaye mwawe, anaweza kuumizwa nayo. Na mtu achongaye mbao, anaweza kujihatarisha kwa hiyo.
Whoever is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoever is cleaving trees endangered by them.
10 Kama chuma bapa kisicho na makali, na mtu hainoi, kisha ni lazima atumie nguvu nyingi, lakini hekima hutoa faida kwa ufaulu.
If the iron has been blunt, And he has not sharpened the face, Then he increases strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
11 Kama nyoka akiuma kabla hajafurahi, hivyo hakuna faida kwa mfurahishaji.
If the serpent bites without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
12 Maneno ya kinywa cha mtu mwenye hekima yana huruma. Lakini midomo ya mpumbavu humumeza mwenyewe.
Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
13 Kama maneno yanavyo anza kutiririka mdomoni mwa mpumbavu, ujinga hutoka, na mwisho mdomo wake hutiririka wazimu mbaya.
The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.
14 Mpumbavu huongeza maneno, lakini hakuna ajuaye kinachokuja. Ni nani ajuaye baada yake?
And the fool multiplies words: “Man does not know that which is—And that which is after him, who declares to him?”
15 Jasho la wapumbavu huwavaa wao, hivyo hawajui hata barabara ya kwenda mjini.
The labor of the foolish wearies him, In that he has not known to go to the city.
16 Ole wako ardhi kama mfalme wako ni kijana mdogo, na kama viongozi wako huanza karamu ahsubuhi!
Woe to you, O land, when your king [is] a youth, And your princes eat in the morning.
17 Lakini umebarikiwa ardhi kama mfalme wako ni mwana wa waungwana, na kama vingozi wako hula wakati muafaka, kwa nguvu, na sio kwa ulevi.
Blessed are you, O land, When your king [is] a son of nobles, And your princes eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
18 Kwa sababu ya uvivu paa huanguka. Na kwa sababu isiyo fanya kazi nyumba hupata ufa.
By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands the house drops.
19 Watu huandaa chakula kwa kicheko, divai huleta furaha maishani, na fedha hutimiza hitaji kwa kila kitu.
For mirth they are making a feast, And wine makes life joyful, And the silver answers with all.
20 Usimlaani mfalme, hata katika akili, na usiwalaani wenye mali katika chumba chako cha kulala. Kwa kuwa ndege wa angani inaweza kuchukua maneno yako. Chochote kilicho na mabawa kinaweza kusambaza jambo.
Even in your mind do not revile a king, And in the inner parts of your bed-chamber do not revile the rich: For a bird of the heavens causes the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declares the word.
