1Thou sisain gimlim bawlpa nuhtheihna uih gim a sawl khe sak a: huchibangmahin haina neu chikin pilna leh zahna a buk zou nak hi.
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2Mi pil lungtang a khut taklam ah a oma; himahleh mi hai lungtang a khut veilam ah.
2A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, but a fool’s heart at his left.
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.
3Yes also, when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone that he is a fool.
4Vaihawmmi lungsim nang dou dinga a thoh leh, na mun taisan ken; kipiakin tatkhelkna thupite a lungkimsak.
4If the spirit of the ruler rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offenses to rest.
5gilou ni nuaia ka muh, vaihawmmi akipana diklouhna hongkipan khia bangin, a om a:
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6Haina nakpi-a zahtakhuaiin a kibawla, mun niamah hauhsakna a tu.
6Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7Sikhate sakol tunga tuang leh, lalte leitunga sikhate banga khea pai ka mu.
7I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8Kuapeuh kokhuk tou huai sungah amah a ke ding; kuapeuh dai phuvang; gulpin a kei ding.
8He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9Kuapeuh suang hemkhia huaiin a kihihna dinga; kuapeuh singa belh huaiah lauhuaiin a kibawl hi.
9Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered thereby.
10Sik a mola, ama min a tathiam kei leh, hatna tamsem a koih ding ahi: himahleh pilna thuzoh a phatuam hi.
10If the axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings success.
11Khima om maa gulpiin a keih leh, khimmi ah phatuamna a omta kei hi.
11If the snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
12Mi pil kama thute hehpihtheiin a oma; himahleh mi hai mukten amah mah a nawmvalh ding.
12The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
13A kama thute kipatna haina ahi: huan a houlimna tawpna lungsim kimlouhna gilou ahi.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
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?
14A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can tell him?
15Khopi-a hohna dan a theih louh jiakin, mi haite sepgimnain amaute laka michih a gimsak hi.
15The labor of fools wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know how to go to the city.
16Aw gam, na tunga gik hi, na kumpipa naupang a hih laiin na lalten jingsangin a ne uh!
16Woe to you, land, when your king is a child, and your princes eat in the morning!
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.
17Happy are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18Thadahna jiakin intung a chima; khut jawntatna jiakin in a keh hi.
18By slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
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.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
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.
20Don’t curse the king, no, not in your thoughts; and don’t curse the rich in your bedroom: for a bird of the sky may carry your voice, and that which has wings may tell the matter.