傳道書 10
1 一個死蒼蠅能敗壞一碗製香膏者的香膏；一點愚昧也能敗壞智慧和尊榮。
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to stink [and] ferment; [so] a little folly is weightier than wisdom [and] honour.
2 智慧人的心傾向右，愚人的心偏向左。
The heart of a wise [man] is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 愚人連在走路時，也是無知，並稱眾人皆糊塗。
Yea 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.
4 若當權者向你生氣，你不可離棄崗位，因為心平氣和能避免大錯。
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for quietness pacifieth great offences.
5 我在太陽下見了一件不幸的事，似乎是出於掌權者的錯誤：
There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error [that] proceedeth from the ruler:
6 愚人佔居高位，貴人屈居下位。
folly is set in great dignities, but the rich sit in a low place.
7 我看見僕人騎馬，而王侯反像僕人一樣步行。
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.
8 挖掘陷阱的必自陷其中，拆毀牆壁的必被蛇咬傷；
He that diggeth a pit falleth into it; and whoso breaketh down a hedge, a serpent biteth him.
9 開鑿石頭的必為石壓傷，砍伐樹木的必遭遇危險。
Whoso removeth stones is hurt therewith; he that cleaveth wood is endangered thereby.
10 鐵器鈍了，如不將刃磨快，必費許多氣力；成功是智慧的效能。
If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.
11 行法術之前，就已被蛇咬傷，法術於行法術的人，就沒有好處。
If the serpent bite before enchantment, then the charmer hath no advantage.
12 智者口中的語言，為人有益；愚人的口舌卻自招滅亡：
The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool swallow up himself.
13 他口中的語言，開始是愚昧，最後卻是殘忍的狂語。
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly; and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
14 愚人只知多言：「將來的事怎樣，人不知道，人身後的事，有誰來告訴他﹖」
And the fool multiplieth words: [yet] man knoweth not what shall be; and what shall be after him, who will tell him?
15 愚人以勞碌為煩惱，因為連怎樣進城，他也不知道。
The labour of fools wearieth them, because they know not how to go to the city.
16 邦國，你的君王若是一個幼童，你的長官若清晨宴飲，你就有禍了!
Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 邦國，你的君王若出身顯貴，你的長官若宴飲有時，只求養身，不為快樂，那你就有福了。
Happy 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!
18 屋頂坍塌，由於怠惰；房屋滴漏，由於手懶。
By much sloth fulness the framework falleth in; and through idleness of the hands the house drippeth.
19 設宴是為歡樂，酒可使生活愉快；錢能應付一切。
A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh life merry; but money answereth everything.
20 在床塌上，不要詛咒君王；在臥室內，不要咒罵長官，因為空中的飛鳥能傳音，有翅翼的能傳話。
Curse 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.
