Ecclesiastes 10 – NIV & CCL

New International Version

Ecclesiastes 10:1-20

1As dead flies give perfume a bad smell,

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

2The heart of the wise inclines to the right,

but the heart of the fool to the left.

3Even as fools walk along the road,

they lack sense

and show everyone how stupid they are.

4If a ruler’s anger rises against you,

do not leave your post;

calmness can lay great offenses to rest.

5There is an evil I have seen under the sun,

the sort of error that arises from a ruler:

6Fools are put in many high positions,

while the rich occupy the low ones.

7I have seen slaves on horseback,

while princes go on foot like slaves.

8Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;

whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;

whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.

10If the ax is dull

and its edge unsharpened,

more strength is needed,

but skill will bring success.

11If a snake bites before it is charmed,

the charmer receives no fee.

12Words from the mouth of the wise are gracious,

but fools are consumed by their own lips.

13At the beginning their words are folly;

at the end they are wicked madness—

14and fools multiply words.

No one knows what is coming—

who can tell someone else what will happen after them?

15The toil of fools wearies them;

they do not know the way to town.

16Woe to the land whose king was a servant10:16 Or king is a child

and whose princes feast in the morning.

17Blessed is the land whose king is of noble birth

and whose princes eat at a proper time—

for strength and not for drunkenness.

18Through laziness, the rafters sag;

because of idle hands, the house leaks.

19A feast is made for laughter,

wine makes life merry,

and money is the answer for everything.

20Do not revile the king even in your thoughts,

or curse the rich in your bedroom,

because a bird in the sky may carry your words,

and a bird on the wing may report what you say.

Mawu a Mulungu mu Chichewa Chalero

Mlaliki 10:1-20

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.