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 oil of the perfumer to produce an evil odour; so does a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour.
2 智慧人的心傾向右，愚人的心偏向左。
A wise man’s heart 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。
Yes also when the fool walks by the way, his understanding fails him, and he says to everyone 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 rises up against you, don’t leave your place; for gentleness lays great offences to rest.
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 which I have seen under the sun, the sort of error which proceeds from the ruler.
6 愚人佔居高位，貴人屈居下位。
Folly is set in great dignity, and 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 on horses, and princes walking like servants on the earth.
8 挖掘陷阱的必自陷其中，拆毀牆壁的必被蛇咬傷；
He who digs a pit may fall into it; and whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.
9 開鑿石頭的必為石壓傷，砍伐樹木的必遭遇危險。
Whoever carves out stones may be injured by them. Whoever splits wood may be endangered by it.
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 axe is blunt, and one doesn’t sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but skill brings 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 snake bites before it is charmed, then is there no profit for the charmer’s tongue.
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 a fool is swallowed by his own lips.
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 foolishness; 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﹖」
A fool also multiplies words. Man doesn’t know what will be; and that which will be after him, who can 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 wearies every one of them; for he doesn’t know 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 you, land, when your king is a child, and your 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 are you, land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your 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 slothfulness the roof sinks in; and through idleness of the hands the house leaks.
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 makes the life glad; and money is the answer for all things.
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。
Don’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.
