1 Dead 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.
Mainzi mafu huvundisha marhamu ya mwuza marashi; Kadhalika upumbavu haba ni mzito kuliko hekima na heshima.
2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
Moyo wake mwenye hekima upo upande wa kuume; Bali moyo wake mpumbavu upo mkono wa kushoto.
3 Yea 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.
Naam, huyo mpumbavu tena, aendapo njiani, hupungukiwa na fahamu zake; hata humwambia kila mtu ya kuwa yeye ni mpumbavu.
4 If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
Roho yake mtawala ikiinuka kinyume chako, Usiondoke mara mahali pako ulipo; Kwa maana roho ya upole hutuliza machukizo yaliyo makubwa.
5 There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
Liko baa nililoliona chini ya jua, nalo ni kama kosa litokalo kwake yeye atawalaye;
6 folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
ya kuwa upumbavu huwekwa mahali pa juu sana, nao wakwasi hukaa mahali pa chini.
7 I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
Mimi nimeona watumwa wamepanda farasi, na wakuu wakienda kwa miguu juu ya nchi kama watumwa.
8 He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
Mwenye kuchimba shimo atatumbukia ndani yake; Na yeye abomoaye boma, nyoka atamwuma.
9 Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
Mwenye kuchonga mawe ataumizwa kwayo; Naye apasuaye miti huona hatari katika hiyo.
10 If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
Iwapo chuma hakipati, wala mtu hakinoi; Ndipo hana budi kutumia nguvu zaidi. Walakini yafaa kutumia hekima, na kufanikiwa.
11 Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
Nyoka akiuma asijatumbuizwa, Basi hakuna faida ya mtumbuizi.
12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
Maneno ya kinywa chake mwenye hekima yana neema; Bali midomo ya mpumbavu itammeza nafsi yake.
13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
Mwanzo wa maneno ya kinywa chake ni upuuzi; na mwisho wa usemi wake ni wazimu wenye hatari.
14 A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
Tena, upumbavu huongeza maneno; lakini mwanadamu hajui yatakayokuwako; nayo yatakayokuwa baada yake, ni nani awezaye kumweleza?
15 The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
Kazi yao wapumbavu huwachosha kila mmoja, Maana hajui hata njia ya kuuendea mji.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
Ole wako, nchi, akiwa mfalme wako ni kijana, Na wakuu wako hula asubuhi!
17 Blessed 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!
Heri kwako, nchi, mfalme wako akiwa mtoto wa watu, Na wakuu wako hula wakati ufaao, Ili makusudi wapate nguvu, wala si kwa ajili ya ulevi.
18 By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
Kwa sababu ya uvivu paa hunepa; Na kwa utepetevu wa mikono nyumba huvuja.
19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things .
Karamu hufanywa kwa ajili ya kicheko, Na divai huyafurahisha maisha; Na fedha huleta jawabu la mambo yote.
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.
Usimlaani mfalme, la, hata katika wazo lako; Wala usiwalaani wakwasi chumbani mwako; Kwa kuwa ndege wa anga ataichukua sauti, Na mwenye mabawa ataitoa habari.
