1Nhunzi dzakafa dzinonhuhwisa nokuvirisa chizoro chomuvhenganisi wezvinonhuhwira; saizvozvo upenzi hushoma hunorema kukunda uchenjeri nokukudzwa.
1Dead flies cause the oil of the perfumer to send forth an evil odor; [so] doth a little folly outweigh wisdom and honor.
2Moyo womunhu wakachenjera uri kurudyi rwake, asi moyo webenzi uri kuruboshwe rwake.
2A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3Zvirokwazvo, kana benzi richifamba panzira, rinoshaiwa njere; rinozivisa vose kuti ndiri benzi.
3Yea also, when the fool walketh by the way, his understanding faileth him, and he saith to every one [that] he is a fool.
4Kana kutsamwa komubati kukakumukira, usabva panzvimbo yako; nekuti unyoro hunonyaradza mhosva huru.
4If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.
5Chinhu chakaipa chiripo chandakaona pasi pezuva, kuri kutadza kunobva kuvabati.
5There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error which proceedeth from the ruler:
6Upenzi hunoiswa pakakwirira, asi vafumi vanogara pakaderera.
6folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in a low place.
7Ndakaona varanda vakatasva mabhiza, namachinda achifamba pasi savaranda.
7I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking like servants upon the earth.
8Anochera gomba, achawiramo amene; ani naani anokoromora rusvingo, nyoka ichamuruma.
8He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh through a wall, a serpent shall bite him.
9Ani naani anoputsa mabwe, angakuvadzwa nawo; uye anobanzura huni, ari panjodzi.
9Whoso heweth out stones shall be hurt therewith; [and] he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10Kana simbi yagomara, munhu akasairodza, anofanira kunyanya kubata nesimba; asi uchenjeri hunobatsira pakururamisa.
10If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.
11Kana nyoka ikaruma isati yarapwa namazango, n'anga haibatsiri.
11If the serpent bite before it is charmed, then is there no advantage in the charmer.
12Mashoko anobva mumuromo woakachenjera, anofadza; asi miromo yebenzi inomumedza iye.
12The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
13Kutanga kwamashoko omuromo waro upenzi; nokuguma kokutaura kwaro upengo hwakashata.
13The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14Benzi rinowanzawo mashoko; asi munhu haazivi zvichavapo; ndiani angamuzivisa zvichazovapo shure kwake?
14A fool also multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and that which shall be after him, who can tell him?
15Kubata kwamapenzi kunonetsa mumwe nomumwe wavo; nekuti haatongozivi nzira yokuenda nayo kuguta.
15The labor of fools wearieth every one of them; for he knoweth not how to go to the city.
16Iwe nyika une nhamo, kana mambo wako ari mwana, kana machinda ako achiita mutambo mangwanani.
16Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes 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 the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!
18Nousimbe denga reimba rinosakara; nokusabata kwamaoko imba inodonha.
18By slothfulness the roof sinketh in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaketh.
19Mutambo unoitirwa kuseka, uye waini inofadza upenyu; zvose zvingawanikwa nemari.
19A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh glad the life; and money answereth all things.
20Usatuka mambo, kunyange pakufunga kwako; usatuka mufumi paimba yako yokuvata; nekuti shiri yokudenga ingatakura inzwi, uye izvo zvinamapapiro zvingazivisa shoko.
20Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.