1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.10.1 Dead…: Heb. Flies of death 2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. 3Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his wisdom faileth him, and he saith to every one that he is a fool.10.3 his…: Heb. his heart
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. 5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:10.5 from: Heb. from before 6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.10.6 in great…: Heb. in great heights 7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth. 8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him. 9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby. 10If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct. 11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.10.11 a babbler: Heb. the master of the tongue
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.10.12 gracious: Heb. grace 13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.10.13 his talk: Heb. his mouth 14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?10.14 is full…: Heb. multiplieth words 15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16¶ Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning! 17Blessed 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¶ By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19¶ A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.10.19 maketh…: Heb. maketh glad the life
20¶ 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.10.20 thought: or, conscience
1Monga ntchentche zakufa zimayika fungo loyipa mʼmafuta onunkhira,
choncho kupusa pangʼono kumawononganso nzeru ndi ulemu.
2Mtima wa munthu wanzeru umamutsogolera bwino,
koma mtima wa munthu wopusa umamusocheretsa.
3Chitsiru ngakhale chikamayenda mu msewu,
zochita zake ndi zopanda nzeru
ndipo chimaonetsa aliyense kuti icho ndi chitsirudi.
4Ngati wolamulira akukwiyira,
usachoke pa ntchito yako;
kufatsa kumakonza zolakwa zazikulu.
5Pali choyipa chimene ndinachiona pansi pano,
kulakwitsa kumene kumachokera kwa wolamulira:
6Zitsiru amazipatsa ntchito zambiri zapamwamba,
pamene anthu olemera amawapatsa ntchito zotsika.
7Ndaona akapolo atakwera pa akavalo,
pamene akalonga akuyenda pansi ngati akapolo.
8Amene amakumba dzenje adzagwamo yekha;
amene amabowola khoma adzalumidwa ndi njoka.
9Amene amaphwanya miyala adzapwetekedwa ndi miyalayo;
amene amawaza nkhuni adzapwetekedwa nazo.
10Ngati nkhwangwa ili yobuntha
yosanoledwa,
pamafunika mphamvu zambiri potema,
koma luso limabweretsa chipambano.
11Nʼkopanda phindu kudziwa kuseweretsa njoka
ngati njokayo yakuluma kale.
12Mawu a pakamwa pa munthu wanzeru ndi okondweretsa,
koma chitsiru chidzawonongedwa ndi milomo yake yomwe.
13Chitsiru chimayamba ndi mawu opusa;
potsiriza pake zoyankhula zake ndi zamisala
14ndipo chitsiru chimachulukitsa mawu.
Palibe amene amadziwa zimene zikubwera mʼtsogolo,
ndani angamuwuze zomwe zidzachitika iye akadzafa?
15Chitsiru chimatopa msanga ndi ntchito yochepa;
ndipo sichikhala ndi mphamvu zobwererera ku mudzi.
16Tsoka kwa iwe, iwe dziko ngati mfumu yako ikali mwana,
ndipo atsogoleri ako amakhala pa madyerero mmamawa.
17Wodala iwe, iwe dziko ngati mfumu yako ndi mwana wolemekezeka
ndipo atsogoleri ako amadya pa nthawi yake,
kuti apeze mphamvu osati kuti aledzere.
18Ngati munthu ndi waulesi, denga lake limaloshoka;
ngati manja ake ndi alobodo nyumba yake imadontha.
19Phwando ndi lokondweretsa anthu,
ndipo vinyo ndi wosangalatsa moyo,
koma ndalama ndi yankho la chilichonse.
20Usanyoze mfumu ngakhale mu mtima mwako,
kapena kutukwana munthu wachuma mʼchipinda chako,
pakuti mbalame yamlengalenga itha kutenga mawu ako
nʼkukafotokoza zomwe wanena.
