1Nhunzi dzakafa dzinonhuhwisa nokuvirisa chizoro chomuvhenganisi wezvinonhuhwira; saizvozvo upenzi hushoma hunorema kukunda uchenjeri nokukudzwa.
1Dead flies cause a perfumer`s perfume To send forth a stink; The precious by reason of wisdom — By reason of honour — a little folly!
2Moyo womunhu wakachenjera uri kurudyi rwake, asi moyo webenzi uri kuruboshwe rwake.
2The heart of the wise [is] at his right hand, And the heart of a fool at his left.
3Zvirokwazvo, kana benzi richifamba panzira, rinoshaiwa njere; rinozivisa vose kuti ndiri benzi.
3And also, when he that is a fool Is walking in the way, his heart is lacking, And he hath said to every one, `He [is] a fool.`
4Kana kutsamwa komubati kukakumukira, usabva panzvimbo yako; nekuti unyoro hunonyaradza mhosva huru.
4If the spirit of the ruler go up against thee, Thy place leave not, For yielding quieteth great sinners.
5Chinhu chakaipa chiripo chandakaona pasi pezuva, kuri kutadza kunobva kuvabati.
5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, As an error that goeth out from the ruler,
6Upenzi hunoiswa pakakwirira, asi vafumi vanogara pakaderera.
6He hath set the fool in many high places, And the rich in a low place do sit.
7Ndakaona varanda vakatasva mabhiza, namachinda achifamba pasi savaranda.
7I have seen servants on horses, And princes walking as servants on the earth.
8Anochera gomba, achawiramo amene; ani naani anokoromora rusvingo, nyoka ichamuruma.
8Whoso is digging a pit falleth into it, And whoso is breaking a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9Ani naani anoputsa mabwe, angakuvadzwa nawo; uye anobanzura huni, ari panjodzi.
9Whoso is removing stones is grieved by them, Whoso is cleaving trees endangered by them.
10Kana simbi yagomara, munhu akasairodza, anofanira kunyanya kubata nesimba; asi uchenjeri hunobatsira pakururamisa.
10If the iron hath been blunt, And he the face hath not sharpened, Then doth he increase strength, And wisdom [is] advantageous to make right.
11Kana nyoka ikaruma isati yarapwa namazango, n'anga haibatsiri.
11If the serpent biteth without enchantment, Then there is no advantage to a master of the tongue.
12Mashoko anobva mumuromo woakachenjera, anofadza; asi miromo yebenzi inomumedza iye.
12Words of the mouth of the wise [are] gracious, And the lips of a fool swallow him up.
13Kutanga kwamashoko omuromo waro upenzi; nokuguma kokutaura kwaro upengo hwakashata.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] folly, And the latter end of his mouth [Is] mischievous madness.
14Benzi rinowanzawo mashoko; asi munhu haazivi zvichavapo; ndiani angamuzivisa zvichazovapo shure kwake?
14And the fool multiplieth words: `Man knoweth not that which is, And that which is after him, who doth declare to him?`
15Kubata kwamapenzi kunonetsa mumwe nomumwe wavo; nekuti haatongozivi nzira yokuenda nayo kuguta.
15The labour of the foolish wearieth him, In that he hath not known to go unto the city.
16Iwe nyika une nhamo, kana mambo wako ari mwana, kana machinda ako achiita mutambo mangwanani.
16Wo to thee, O land, when thy king [is] a youth, And thy princes do eat in the morning.
17Unomufaro, iwe nyika, kana mambo wako ari mwanakomana wavakakudzwa, kana machinda ako achiita mutambo panguva yakafanira, kuti asimbiswe, asingaitiri kubatwa.
17Happy art thou, O land, When thy king [is] a son of freemen, And thy princes do eat in due season, For might, and not for drunkenness.
18Nousimbe denga reimba rinosakara; nokusabata kwamaoko imba inodonha.
18By slothfulness is the wall brought low, And by idleness of the hands doth the house drop.
19Mutambo unoitirwa kuseka, uye waini inofadza upenyu; zvose zvingawanikwa nemari.
19For mirth they are making a feast, And wine maketh life joyful, And the silver answereth with all.
20Usatuka mambo, kunyange pakufunga kwako; usatuka mufumi paimba yako yokuvata; nekuti shiri yokudenga ingatakura inzwi, uye izvo zvinamapapiro zvingazivisa shoko.
20Even in thy mind a king revile not, And in the inner parts of thy bed-chamber Revile not the rich: For a fowl of the heavens causeth the voice to go, And a possessor of wings declareth the word.