Mhubiri 10
1 Kama nzi walio kufa husababisha manukato kutoa harufu ya uozo, hivyo hivyo upumbavu kidogo hushinda hekima na heshima.
[A few] dead flies in [a bottle of] perfume cause [all] the perfume to stink. Similarly [SIM], a small amount of acting foolishly can have a greater effect than acting wisely.
2 Moyo wa mtu mwenye hekima huelekea kulia, lakini moyo wa mpumbavu huelekea kushoto.
If people think sensibly, it will lead them to do what is right; if they think foolishly, it causes them to do what is wrong.
3 Wakati mpumbavu anapotembea barabarani, fikira zake zina upungufu, ikithibitisha kwa kila mtu kwamba ni mpumbavu.
Even while foolish people walk along the road, they show that they do not have good sense; they show everyone that they are not wise.
4 Kama jaziba za mtawala zikiinuka kinyume na wewe, usiache kazi yako. Utulivu unaweza kutuliza ukatili mkubwa.
Do not quit working for a ruler when he is angry with you; if you remain calm, he will [probably] stop being angry.
5 Kuna uovu niliouona chini ya jua, aina ya kosa ambalo huja kutoka kwa mtawala:
There is something [else] that I have seen here on this earth, something that rulers sometimes do that is wrong/inappropriate:
6 Wapumbavu wanapewa nafasi za uongozi, wakati watu walio faulu wanapewa nafasi za chini.
They appoint foolish people to have important positions, while they appoint rich [people] to have unimportant positions.
7 Nimewaona watumwa wakipanda farasi, na watu walio faulu wakitembea kama watumwa juu ya ardhi.
They allow slaves [to ride] on horses [like rich people usually do], [but] they force officials to walk [like slaves usually do].
8 Yeyote anayechimba shimo anaweza kutumbukia yake, na popote mtu anayevunja ukuja, nyoka anaweza kumuuma.
[It is possible that] those who dig pits will fall into one of those pits. [It is possible that] someone who tears down a wall will be bitten by a snake [that is in that wall].
9 Yeyote achongaye mwawe, anaweza kuumizwa nayo. Na mtu achongaye mbao, anaweza kujihatarisha kwa hiyo.
If you work in a quarry, [it is possible that] a stone [will fall on you and] injure you. [It is possible that] men who split logs will be injured by one of those logs.
10 Kama chuma bapa kisicho na makali, na mtu hainoi, kisha ni lazima atumie nguvu nyingi, lakini hekima hutoa faida kwa ufaulu.
If your axe is not sharp [DOU], you will need to work harder [to cut down a tree], but by being wise, you will succeed.
11 Kama nyoka akiuma kabla hajafurahi, hivyo hakuna faida kwa mfurahishaji.
If a snake bites a man before he charms/tames it, his ability to charm snakes will not benefit him.
12 Maneno ya kinywa cha mtu mwenye hekima yana huruma. Lakini midomo ya mpumbavu humumeza mwenyewe.
Wise people say [MTY] what is sensible, and because of that, people honor them; but foolish people are destroyed by what they say [MTY].
13 Kama maneno yanavyo anza kutiririka mdomoni mwa mpumbavu, ujinga hutoka, na mwisho mdomo wake hutiririka wazimu mbaya.
When foolish people start to talk, they say things that are foolish, and they end by saying things that are both wicked and foolish.
14 Mpumbavu huongeza maneno, lakini hakuna ajuaye kinachokuja. Ni nani ajuaye baada yake?
They talk (too much/without ceasing). None of us knows what will happen in the future, or what will happen after we die.
15 Jasho la wapumbavu huwavaa wao, hivyo hawajui hata barabara ya kwenda mjini.
Foolish people become [so] exhausted by the work that they do that they are unable to find the road to their town/homes.
16 Ole wako ardhi kama mfalme wako ni kijana mdogo, na kama viongozi wako huanza karamu ahsubuhi!
Terrible things will happen to the people of a nation whose ruler is a foolish young man, and whose [other] leaders continually eat, all day long, every day.
17 Lakini umebarikiwa ardhi kama mfalme wako ni mwana wa waungwana, na kama vingozi wako hula wakati muafaka, kwa nguvu, na sio kwa ulevi.
[But] a nation will prosper if its ruler is from a (noble/well-educated) family, and if its [other] leaders feast [only] at the proper times, and [if they eat and drink only] to be strong, not to become drunk.
18 Kwa sababu ya uvivu paa huanguka. Na kwa sababu isiyo fanya kazi nyumba hupata ufa.
Some men are very lazy [and do not repair the rafters], with the result that the rafters sag [and collapse]; and if they do not repair the roof, water will leak into the house [when it rains].
19 Watu huandaa chakula kwa kicheko, divai huleta furaha maishani, na fedha hutimiza hitaji kwa kila kitu.
Eating food and drinking wine causes us to laugh and be happy, [but] we are able to enjoy those things only if we have money [to buy them].
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.
Do not even think about cursing the king, or cursing rich [people, even] when you are [alone] in your bedroom, because [it is possible that] a little bird will hear [what you are saying], [and] tell those people what you said [about them].
