传道书 10
1 死苍蝇使做香的膏油发出臭气； 这样，一点愚昧也能败坏智慧和尊荣。
Pestilent flies will corrupt a preparation of sweet ointment: [and] a little wisdom is more precious than great glory of folly.
2 智慧人的心居右； 愚昧人的心居左。
A wise man's heart is at his right hand; but a fool's heart at his left.
3 并且愚昧人行路显出无知， 对众人说，他是愚昧人。
Yea, and whenever a fool walks by the way, his heart will fail him, and all that he thinks of is folly.
4 掌权者的心若向你发怒， 不要离开你的本位， 因为柔和能免大过。
If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for soothing will put an end to great offences.
5 我见日光之下有一件祸患， 似乎出于掌权的错误，
There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, wherein an error has proceeded from the ruler.
6 就是愚昧人立在高位； 富足人坐在低位。
The fool has been set in very high places, while rich men would sit in a low one.
7 我见过仆人骑马， 王子像仆人在地上步行。
I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants on the earth.
8 挖陷坑的，自己必掉在其中； 拆墙垣的，必为蛇所咬。
He that digs a pit shall fall into it; and him that breaks down a hedge a serpent shall bite.
9 凿开石头的，必受损伤； 劈开木头的，必遭危险。
He that removes stones shall be troubled thereby; he that cleaves wood shall be endangered thereby.
10 铁器钝了，若不将刃磨快，就必多费气力； 但得智慧指教，便有益处。
If the axe-head should fall off, then the man troubles his countenance, and he must put forth more strength: and [in that case] skill is of no advantage to a man.
11 未行法术以先，蛇若咬人， 后行法术也是无益。
If a serpent bite when there is no [charmer's] whisper, then there is no advantage to the charmer.
12 智慧人的口说出恩言； 愚昧人的嘴吞灭自己。
The words of a wise mouth are gracious: but the lips of a fool will swallow him up.
13 他口中的言语起头是愚昧； 他话的末尾是奸恶的狂妄。
The beginning of the words of his mouth is folly: and the end of his talk mischievous madness.
14 愚昧人多有言语， 人却不知将来有什么事； 他身后的事谁能告诉他呢？
A fool moreover multiplies words: man knows not what has been, nor what will be: who shall tell him what will come after him?
15 凡愚昧人，他的劳碌使自己困乏， 因为连进城的路，他也不知道。
The labour of fools will afflict them, [as that of one] who knows not to go to the city.
16 邦国啊，你的王若是孩童， 你的群臣早晨宴乐， 你就有祸了！
Woe to thee, O city, whose king is young, and thy princes eat in the morning!
17 邦国啊，你的王若是贵胄之子， 你的群臣按时吃喝， 为要补力，不为酒醉， 你就有福了！
Blessed art thou, O land, whose king is a son of nobles, and whose princes shall eat seasonably, for strength, and shall not be ashamed.
18 因人懒惰，房顶塌下； 因人手懒，房屋滴漏。
By slothful neglect a building will be brought low: and by idleness of the hands the house will fall to pieces.
19 设摆筵席是为喜笑。 酒能使人快活； 钱能叫万事应心。
Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine and oil that the living should rejoice: but to money all things will humbly yield obedience.
20 你不可咒诅君王， 也不可心怀此念； 在你卧房也不可咒诅富户。 因为空中的鸟必传扬这声音， 有翅膀的也必述说这事。
Even in thy conscience, curse not the king; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry thy voice, and that which has wings shall report thy speech.
