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 honour — 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 hath said to every one, '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 go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth 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 an error that goeth out from the ruler,
6 Wapumbavu wanapewa nafasi za uongozi, wakati watu walio faulu wanapewa nafasi za chini.
He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
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.
Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9 Yeyote achongaye mwawe, anaweza kuumizwa nayo. Na mtu achongaye mbao, anaweza kujihatarisha kwa hiyo.
Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso 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 hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
11 Kama nyoka akiuma kabla hajafurahi, hivyo hakuna faida kwa mfurahishaji.
If the serpent biteth 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 multiplieth words: 'Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?'
15 Jasho la wapumbavu huwavaa wao, hivyo hawajui hata barabara ya kwenda mjini.
The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
16 Ole wako ardhi kama mfalme wako ni kijana mdogo, na kama viongozi wako huanza karamu ahsubuhi!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a youth, And thy princes do 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.
Happy art thou, O land, When thy king [is] a son of freemen, And thy princes do 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 doth the house drop.
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 maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth 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 thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.
