1Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
1Thou sisain gimlim bawlpa nuhtheihna uih gim a sawl khe sak a: huchibangmahin haina neu chikin pilna leh zahna a buk zou nak hi.
2The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
2Mi pil lungtang a khut taklam ah a oma; himahleh mi hai lungtang a khut veilam ah.
3Yea also, when he that is a fool walketh by the way, his sense faileth [him], and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
3A hi, huaibanah, lampi-a mi hai a vak laiin, a theihsiamnain a juau sana, mi chiteng ah hai a hih dan a gen hi.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
4Vaihawmmi lungsim nang dou dinga a thoh leh, na mun taisan ken; kipiakin tatkhelkna thupite a lungkimsak.
5There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
5gilou ni nuaia ka muh, vaihawmmi akipana diklouhna hongkipan khia bangin, a om a:
6folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
6Haina nakpi-a zahtakhuaiin a kibawla, mun niamah hauhsakna a tu.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
7Sikhate sakol tunga tuang leh, lalte leitunga sikhate banga khea pai ka mu.
8He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
8Kuapeuh kokhuk tou huai sungah amah a ke ding; kuapeuh dai phuvang; gulpin a kei ding.
9Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
9Kuapeuh suang hemkhia huaiin a kihihna dinga; kuapeuh singa belh huaiah lauhuaiin a kibawl hi.
10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
10Sik a mola, ama min a tathiam kei leh, hatna tamsem a koih ding ahi: himahleh pilna thuzoh a phatuam hi.
11If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
11Khima om maa gulpiin a keih leh, khimmi ah phatuamna a omta kei hi.
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
12Mi pil kama thute hehpihtheiin a oma; himahleh mi hai mukten amah mah a nawmvalh ding.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
13A kama thute kipatna haina ahi: huan a houlimna tawpna lungsim kimlouhna gilou ahi.
14And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
14Mi haiin leng thu a khangsak a: himahleh mihingin bang a om dia chih a theikei; huan amah nunga hongom ding, amah kuan a hilh thei dia?
15The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
15Khopi-a hohna dan a theih louh jiakin, mi haite sepgimnain amaute laka michih a gimsak hi.
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
16Aw gam, na tunga gik hi, na kumpipa naupang a hih laiin na lalten jingsangin a ne uh!
17Happy art thou, O land, when thy king is a son of nobles, and thy princes eat in [due] season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
17Aw gam, na kumpipa miliante tapa a hiha, na lalten, kham ding hi lou-a, hatna dinga a hun taka a nek lai un, nuam na sa hi.
18By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
18Thadahna jiakin intung a chima; khut jawntatna jiakin in a keh hi.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
19Nuihna dingin ankuang a kiluia, uainin hinna a kipaksak; sum thil tengteng awnghukna ahi.Kumpipa, li hi lou, na ngaihtuahin hamsiat ken; huan na lupna dantan sungah mihausate hamsiat ken: huih khuaa vasaten na aw po ding ua, kha neiten a thu gen ding uh a hih jiakin.
20Curse not the king, no, not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for the bird of the air will carry the voice, and that which hath wings will tell the matter.
20Kumpipa, li hi lou, na ngaihtuahin hamsiat ken; huan na lupna dantan sungah mihausate hamsiat ken: huih khuaa vasaten na aw po ding ua, kha neiten a thu gen ding uh a hih jiakin.