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.
1Nhunzi dzakafa dzinonhuhwisa nokuvirisa chizoro chomuvhenganisi wezvinonhuhwira; saizvozvo upenzi hushoma hunorema kukunda uchenjeri nokukudzwa.
2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
2Moyo womunhu wakachenjera uri kurudyi rwake, asi moyo webenzi uri kuruboshwe rwake.
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.
3Zvirokwazvo, kana benzi richifamba panzira, rinoshaiwa njere; rinozivisa vose kuti ndiri benzi.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.
4Kana kutsamwa komubati kukakumukira, usabva panzvimbo yako; nekuti unyoro hunonyaradza mhosva huru.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
5Chinhu chakaipa chiripo chandakaona pasi pezuva, kuri kutadza kunobva kuvabati.
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
6Upenzi hunoiswa pakakwirira, asi vafumi vanogara pakaderera.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
7Ndakaona varanda vakatasva mabhiza, namachinda achifamba pasi savaranda.
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
8Anochera gomba, achawiramo amene; ani naani anokoromora rusvingo, nyoka ichamuruma.
9Whoso removeth stones shall be hurt therewith; and he that cleaveth wood shall be endangered thereby.
9Ani naani anoputsa mabwe, angakuvadzwa nawo; uye anobanzura huni, ari panjodzi.
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.
10Kana simbi yagomara, munhu akasairodza, anofanira kunyanya kubata nesimba; asi uchenjeri hunobatsira pakururamisa.
11Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment; and a babbler is no better.
11Kana nyoka ikaruma isati yarapwa namazango, n'anga haibatsiri.
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
12Mashoko anobva mumuromo woakachenjera, anofadza; asi miromo yebenzi inomumedza iye.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
13Kutanga kwamashoko omuromo waro upenzi; nokuguma kokutaura kwaro upengo hwakashata.
14A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
14Benzi rinowanzawo mashoko; asi munhu haazivi zvichavapo; ndiani angamuzivisa zvichazovapo shure kwake?
15The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.
15Kubata kwamapenzi kunonetsa mumwe nomumwe wavo; nekuti haatongozivi nzira yokuenda nayo kuguta.
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
16Iwe nyika une nhamo, kana mambo wako ari mwana, kana machinda ako achiita mutambo mangwanani.
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!
17Unomufaro, iwe nyika, kana mambo wako ari mwanakomana wavakakudzwa, kana machinda ako achiita mutambo panguva yakafanira, kuti asimbiswe, asingaitiri kubatwa.
18By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
18Nousimbe denga reimba rinosakara; nokusabata kwamaoko imba inodonha.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.
19Mutambo unoitirwa kuseka, uye waini inofadza upenyu; zvose zvingawanikwa nemari.
20Curse 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.
20Usatuka mambo, kunyange pakufunga kwako; usatuka mufumi paimba yako yokuvata; nekuti shiri yokudenga ingatakura inzwi, uye izvo zvinamapapiro zvingazivisa shoko.